Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 November 1999

51 articles found

Huxtable wins Sabah Masters

Huxtable wins Sabah Masters KOTA KINABLU, Malaysia (AFP): American Robert Huxtable coasted to a six-stroke win in the US$150,000 Sabah Masters Sunday, able to laugh off a one-stroke penalty incurred when his caddie accidentally kicked his ball on the fairway.

BNI expects recapitalization to start in December 1999

BNI expects recapitalization to start in December 1999 JAKARTA (JP): A further delay in the recapitalization of publicly listed Bank Negara Indonesia (Bank BNI) might result in a closure of its foreign branches, Widigdo Sukarman, the bank's president, has warned.

Liquor, gambling raids hit Bogor

Liquor, gambling raids hit Bogor BOGOR (JP): Bogor Police ran mass raids over the past week, confiscating 2,500 bottles of liquor, 52 video compact discs (VCDs) and hundreds of togel gambling coupons.A popular method of gambling, judi buntut, togel, or toto gelap, is based on two, three or four...

Abolishment of information ministry

Abolishment of information ministryFrom Bisnis IndonesiaI sympathize with the employees of the Ministry of Information, which was abolished by the government, and hope that the government can solve the problem wisely.

Golkar says it repaid Rp 15b to Manimaren

Golkar says it repaid Rp 15b to Manimaren JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party said on Sunday it repaid Rp 15 billion (US$2.2 million) in loans it received from M. Manimaren, chairman of PT Ungaran Sari Garment and one of the party's deputy treasurers, in a transaction linked to the Bank Bali scandal.

Dayak rituals drink in meaning of 'tuak'

Dayak rituals drink in meaning of 'tuak'By Yetie M.G. Tamen PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): The majority of the Dayak subethnic group in West Kalimantan consider tuak, its local alcoholic beverage, a drink with cultural and highly social values.

Telkomsel subscriber base may grow 80%

Telkomsel subscriber base may grow 80% JAKARTA (JP): A sharp increase in demand for its prepaid cards will lift the number of subscribers to cellular telephone operator Telkomsel by at least 80 percent this year, a company executive said.

Snake smuggling aborted

Snake smuggling aborted SURABAYA: Customs and quarantine officers at Juanda airport here foiled an attempt to smuggle hundreds of snakes to Malaysia on Saturday.A quarantine staff member, Soeparto, told Antara that he found the snakes inside 17 boxes of papers about to be sent to Kuala Lumpur via...

World trade has 'weathered Asian crisis'

World trade has 'weathered Asian crisis'By Jean-Pierre Kapp GENEVA: The world trading system has survived the crises in Southeast Asia and Russia in good shape, World Trade Organization Director-General Mike Moore said in an review of developments over the past year in the international trading...

Calls mount for NU to break from PKB

Calls mount for NU to break from PKB JAKARTA (JP): A fresh demand was aired on Saturday for Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) to cut its traditional affiliation with the National Awakening Party (PKB) when the country's largest Muslim organization holds its congress later this month.

Parking agency needs Rp 3b subsidy: Official

Parking agency needs Rp 3b subsidy: Official JAKARTA (JP): City parking management agency BP Parkir still needs a Rp 3 billion (US$441,176) subsidy in the 1999/2000 fiscal year from the city administration to cover operational expenses, an official said on Friday.

Modern digital cameras can provide a lot of fun

Modern digital cameras can provide a lot of funBy Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Digital cameras have definitely come a long way since the day I played around with a Logitech Fotoman, which looked so much like a martabak (Indian pizza).

Taiwan's candidate urges stronger ties with China

Taiwan's candidate urges stronger ties with China TAIPEI (Agencies): Taiwan's pro-independence presidential candidate on Sunday urged closer economic ties with China, including an end to a half-century ban on direct transportation links.

Timah's profits drop

Timah's profits drop JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed tin mining company PT Timah announced net profits of Rp 280.7 billion (US$41.3 million) for the first nine months of 1999, a 38 percent decrease from the Rp 454.9 billion in the same period last year.

Man died from strangulation not stab wounds: Doctor

Man died from strangulation not stab wounds: Doctor JAKARTA (JP): A 30-year-old man found dead on Thursday night in West Jakarta died from strangulation, Dr. Zulhasmar Syamsu of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue said on Saturday."Don't look at those stab marks all over his body.

A matter of cultural empowerment

A matter of cultural empowerment In the new Cabinet, the Ministry of Education and Culture has been renamed the Ministry of National Education, raising speculations as to whether the culture arena will be neglected.

Medan cleans up drug scene

Medan cleans up drug scene MEDAN, North Sumatra: Provincial Police here have arrested 145 people suspected of drug use in a series of raids on discos in the past couple months.Under the code name Operation Narkoba, the joint-antidrug force caught eight drug users in a disco in the wee hours of...

Gus Dur unsure of meeting Clinton

Gus Dur unsure of meeting ClintonBy Kornelius Purba YANGON, Myanmar (JP): President Abudurrahman Wahid may be forced to postpone his meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton this week due to the latter's tight schedule.

JSX anticipates return of some foreign investors

JSX anticipates return of some foreign investors JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange's (JSX) optimistic projection of the return of some foreign investors will not necessarily spur buying due to profit taking by local investors, analysts said over the weekend.

Merpati opens new route

Merpati opens new route SEMARANG: State-owned domestic airlines PT Merpati Nusantara has opened a new route plying between here and Pontianak in West Kalimantan in response to a growing demand from people conducting social and economic activities in both locations.

Rp 100,000 banknotes

Rp 100,000 banknotes Why do the new Rp 100,000 banknotes issued by Bank Indonesia -- in reference to the text in the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia -- mention the year 05 instead of 45? Is it a misprint, a special code?Bank Indonesia should clarify this matter.

GAPRI fumes over new nicotine regulation

GAPRI fumes over new nicotine regulation JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers (GAPPRI) has called on the government to review a new regulation which stipulates reduced nicotine and tar levels, along with a prohibition on television and radio advertising.

Internet inroads challenge print media

Internet inroads challenge print mediaBy Rachmat H. Cahyono JAKARTA (JP): The revolution went on without any fuss, ammunition or firearms. It was a direct challenge to the continuity of a more than 200-year-old tradition.

IMF official says no funds for East Timor during transition

IMF official says no funds for East Timor during transition DARWIN, Australia (Reuters): The International Monetary Fund will not give money to East Timor during the United Nations transitional administration of the battered territory, a regional IMF official said on Sunday.

IBRA to sell BCA shares through IPO

IBRA to sell BCA shares through IPO JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) will sell about 30 percent of the shares it holds in Bank Central Asia (BCA) in an initial public offering (IPO) in February, an official at the agency said.

PSIS fans go on rampage after team loses game

PSIS fans go on rampage after team loses game SEMARANG (JP): Thousands of disappointed PSIS Semarang fans attacked the police and other spectators on Sunday after their team lost to Barito Putra of Kalimantan on the opening day of the Sixth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina).

Trisakti sees over 2,600 graduates

Trisakti sees over 2,600 graduates JAKARTA (JP): More than 2,600 students of privately run Trisakti University attended their graduation ceremony, led by rector Thoby Mutis, at the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Police seize haul of fake mobile phone batteries

Police seize haul of fake mobile phone batteries JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives arrested on Saturday the owner of a small factory in Central Jakarta which allegedly produced fake cellular phone batteries.

Three toddlers drown in pond

Three toddlers drown in pond KUDUS, Central Java: Three children below five years of age drowned in a pond at Pengawen village here on Saturday.The three were identified as Astuti, 4, Bella, 4, and Asselo, 5. Residents found their bodies floating in the pond in the afternoon.

Gold rush windfall over for city jewelry buyers

Gold rush windfall over for city jewelry buyers JAKARTA (JP): While most of the country is pleased with the nascent economic recovery, many jewelry buyers who offer their services on the streets of the city view the burgeoning economy as the end to their businesses.

Antam earnings plunge

Antam earnings plunge JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) announced a nearly 60 percent drop to Rp 122.13 billion in its unaudited net earnings in the Jan. to Sept. period from Rp 282.05 billion in the same period last year.

Maritime security

Maritime security I find S. Suhaedi's letter Maritime studies published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 2, 1999, an exemplary attempt to raise awareness of Indonesia's maritime potential. However, Mr. Suhaedi did not elaborate on an important factor related to realizing such a vision: Indonesia's naval...

Drugs suspected in two deaths

Drugs suspected in two deaths JAKARTA (JP): Two women died from suspected drug overdoses in separate locations over the weekend, police and hospital officials said on Sunday.A 23-year-old woman with long black hair was found dead in a hotel room in Taman Sari, West Jakarta, on Friday afternoon.

Government cautions firms on annual bonuses for workers

Government cautions firms on annual bonuses for workers JAKARTA (JP): With Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays just around the corner, the government cautioned companies to prepare paying employees their compulsory annual bonus which coincides with these religious festivities.

Astra expects car sales to hit 80,000 this year

Astra expects car sales to hit 80,000 this year JAKARTA (JP): The country's largest carmaker, Astra International, predicted on Saturday domestic car sales would reach 80,000 this year, up from an initial forecast of 60,000.

Tension prevails in Ternate after weekend unrest

Tension prevails in Ternate after weekend unrest AMBON, Maluku (JP): Tension enveloped the North Maluku capital of Ternate on Sunday following a fresh communal clash overnight in which at least four people died.

Indonesian economy to expand: Kwik

Indonesian economy to expand: Kwik SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesia's economy should expand two percent next year after languishing in recession for two years, according to IMF and government calculations, a top Indonesian minister said Saturday.

Tangerang cautious over dump site plan

Tangerang cautious over dump site plan TANGERANG (JP): Troubled with environmental damage caused by the Bantar Gebang garbage dump in Bekasi, Tangerang administration is carefully considering the Jakarta administration's plan to move the dump site to the Ciangir area.

Surjadi lets Freddy hold governor post

Surjadi lets Freddy hold governor post JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Home affairs minister Surjadi Soedirdja has allowed State Minister of Administrative Reforms Freddy Numberi to hold his post as governor for at least two months.

Trade ties with Israel?

Trade ties with Israel? According to a statement from the newly sworn-in Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia will open trade ties with Israel for the sake of economic reasons (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 3, 1999).

Media plays key role in RI-Australia diplomatic ties

Media plays key role in RI-Australia diplomatic ties This is the first of two articles based on remarks by former Indonesian ambassador to Australia S. Wiryono at a gathering organized by the Indonesia-Australia Business Council in Jakarta on Nov. 2, 1999.

Merpati may suspend New Year flights

Merpati may suspend New Year flightsBy Christiani S.A. Tumelap SURABAYA (JP): State-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines, the country's main domestic airline operator, has announced that some of its flights may be suspended over New Year, even though all the airline computer systems were Y2K compliant.

Foreign executives laud Abdurrahman

Foreign executives laud Abdurrahman SINGAPORE (Agencies): Foreign businesspeople said they were impressed by Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid's pledges of market-driven policies but added that they won't rush to invest in Indonesia just yet.

Economists stress independence of DEN

Economists stress independence of DEN The government's plan to form the National Economic Council (DEN) has gained mixed reactions, particularly regarding its membership. Economist Tony A. Prasetyantono of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, who is among candidates mentioned for council...

Democratic values must beat sectarianism

Democratic values must beat sectarianism The political scene is no longer predictable, yet some things aren't really new. Political researcher Mahrus Irsyam of the University of Indonesia looks at the repetition of history in an interview with The Jakarta Post.

Business dispute leads to alleged kidnapping: Police

Business dispute leads to alleged kidnapping: Police JAKARTA (JP): City police arrested on Thursday a South Korean national and an Indonesian accomplice for allegedly kidnapping a South Korean in front of the South Korean Embassy over a business dispute, a police official said.

Indonesia-Israel ties discussed by Arab envoys

Indonesia-Israel ties discussed by Arab envoys JAKARTA (JP): Sixteen Middle Eastern and North African envoys met on Friday with Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab to discuss Jakarta's decision to open trade ties with Israel.

Discourse on Israel ties

Discourse on Israel ties President Abdurrahman Wahid has created a political minefield for himself by announcing that he is forging ahead with plans to open commercial ties with Israel. While Abdurrahman, a noted Muslim scholar, thrived on controversy before he became head of state, this issue is...

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Festival * Festival November '99 features poetry readings, theaters, exhibitions, dances, and film, at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta. - Exhibitions, at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Bank Bali soap opera

The Bank Bali soap opera Like it or not, the Bank Bali scandal has turned into a soap opera, with the players in the scandal being slippery as soap. Each new revelation is immediately overtaken by another one. New episodes follow one after the other without end.

C. Java eyes more investors

C. Java eyes more investors SEMARANG (JP): Central Java sees an increase in investment flow in the province following the government's recent decision to fully delegate the licensing authority to the provincial administration.