Archive: 3 February 1999
50 articles found
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Zoo animals given new diet
Zoo animals given new diet MEDAN, North Sumatra: Although a number of zoos in the country have been forced cut food rations for animals under their care, the management of Medan Zoo have announced that their exhibits have continued to get their usual portions. "We have not reduced rations, we've just changed the menu," Dop Nainggolan of the company which runs the zoo, told Antara on Monday. He denied reports that animals were thinner because of the changes.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
BI forex reserves up again to $15.1b
BI forex reserves up again to $15.1b JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia announced on Wednesday the country's net foreign exchange reserves rose slightly to US$15.1 billion as of Jan. 29, from $15.05 billion a week earlier. The central bank attributed the increase to the disbursement of offshore loans and the government's revenues from non-oil exports. It said net international reserves were well above the target agreed to with the International Monetary Fund of $10.90 billion.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Reconsidering our cultural image
Reconsidering our cultural image By Marianus Kleden KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Apparently inspired by the continual rioting, looting and terror in the country, Sapardi Djoko Damono, a noted literary critic, discussed in a recent interview with TVRI the need to reconsider Indonesia's cultural image. The problem he seemed to be referring to was the apparent discrepancy between what is constructed and what is real in our social interactions. To some extent this view makes sense.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Manila gives ground to rebels
Manila gives ground to rebels MANILA (AFP): Philippines officials on Tuesday dangled the prospect of expanded self-rule to minority Muslims in the Mindanao region as Manila got ready for peace talks with Islamic separatists after a deadly outbreak of fighting in the south.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
'E. Timorese not armed by ABRI'
'E. Timorese not armed by ABRI' JAKARTA (JP): Amid escalating tension in East Timor, the Armed Forces (ABRI) has denied supplying ammunition to the province to terrorize pro-referendum East Timorese and to protect pro- integration forces. Instead it has accused separatist "disturbance groups" of being behind the recent killings and terror. "We have never armed pro-integration East Timorese terror groups opposed to a referendum," ABRI Commander Gen.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sales pitch for Yogyakarta
Sales pitch for Yogyakarta The unstable political situation is having an impact on tourism in Indonesia. The number of tourists visiting Indonesia has decreased by up to 60 percent. This sharp decline has apparently been caused by the recent riots occurring in several regions. Some foreign governments have even prohibited their nationals from visiting Indonesia for safety reasons. However, to make a general conclusion that Indonesia is not safe for tourists is not true.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Telkom responds
Telkom responds In response to Mr. Pranajaya's complaint in his letter to The Jakarta Post (Jan. 14) on "Paying telephone bills" in the Pamulang area, we would like to say that: 1. To facilitate the payment of telephone bills, PT Telkom established in 1996 the online payment point system, so that subscribers in the Pamulang area can pay their bills at any of the 49 locations at banks and post offices in the South Jakarta area.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Riots and provocateurs
Riots and provocateurs From Merdeka It is an ironic present-day phenomenon that the ubiquitous riots taking place in Indonesia no longer make media headlines. Perhaps it is due to their high frequency and the great variety of the regions where the anarchy occurs. Can human life no longer be weighted with human rights? The oddity has numbed the sensory perception of government officials. It is not clear whether they are powerless or there is an unknown reason for it.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
450,000 students to monitor June elections
450,000 students to monitor June elections JAKARTA (JP): University rectors across the country are to recruit 450,000 students to monitor voting at 75 percent of the estimated 600,000 polling booths, even as experts warned of possible unrest marring the event planned for June 7.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah gains ground as stock prices fall further
Rupiah gains ground as stock prices fall further JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah extended its gains on Tuesday, closing firmer at 8,825 against the U.S. dollar in very thin trading as the stock market continued its slide, falling nearly 1 percent. Dealers said the rupiah opened at 8,825 and shot up to an intraday high of 8,775 in morning trading as certain offshore operators, particularly those from Singapore, sold their dollars for the rupiah.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
PT Timor official questioned
PT Timor official questioned JAKARTA: A commissioner of PT Timor Putra Nasional, a company awarded controversial tax breaks to manufacture a national car, was questioned at the Attorney General's Office on Monday. The commissioner, Effendi Lubis, arrived at the Attorney General's Office at 9 a.m. in a blue Timor sedan. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Soejono.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
S'pore expects 2-3% growth
S'pore expects 2-3% growth SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew expects Singapore's economy to grow by 2 to 3 percent in 2000 after hovering near stagnation this year. In an interview in at Davos, Switzerland, Lee also repeated the government forecast that the economy will range in 1999 between a 1 percent drop and a 1 percent increase. The economy grew by 1.3 percent in 1998.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police are still in the dark about bomb threat callers
Police are still in the dark about bomb threat callers JAKARTA (JP): The city police are still in the dark as to the identities and whereabouts of the mysterious callers in a series of recent bomb threats to numerous public places in the capital, police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman has said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Noegroho said his men had already applied all standard procedures in pursuit of the callers.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Women seeking greater future role
Women seeking greater future role JAKARTA (JP): A national women's organization long considered close to the government is pouncing on opportunities from the reform movement to establish a more significant role for itself in society. Chairwoman of the Indonesian Congress of Women (Kowani), Enny Busiri, said the issue of retaining the First Lady as the organization's main patron would be among subjects for discussion at its 21st congress which opened on Monday.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Gloomy outlook forecast for office space market
Gloomy outlook forecast for office space market JAKARTA (JP): Owners of office buildings in Jakarta's central business district are in for more tough times over the next two years, with a slump in demand and falling rent forecast, property consultants PT Procon Indah/Jones Lang Wootton said on Tuesday.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asiad veteran boxers to compete at SEAG
Asiad veteran boxers to compete at SEAG JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will pin its hopes of winning gold medals in boxing at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on its Asian Games veterans, an official said on Tuesday. Deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) Didiet Soedijoto said five of the six pugilists who donned the national colors at the Asiad in Bangkok last December would resume intensive training for the SEA Games later this month.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina chief vows to step up graft probe
Pertamina chief vows to step up graft probe JAKARTA (JP): The new president of state oil and gas company Pertamina, seeking to quiet public distrust about his commitment to fighting graft, has ordered an investigation into all the firm's contracts worth more than Rp 10 billion (US$1.17 million).
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Transvestite found dead in his house
Transvestite found dead in his house JAKARTA (JP): A transvestite was found dead in his house in Ciputat, Tangerang, south of here, on Tuesday morning, Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. The victim was identified as Rusdi, alias Yuli, 56, he said. Rusdi's body was found by Devi Sutisna, who helped Rusdi run the beauty parlor he owned, Zainuri said.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt defends plan to import Indian beef and buffalo
Govt defends plan to import Indian beef and buffalo JAKARTA (JP): The government defended on Tuesday its plan to import beef and buffalo meat from India to compensate for local market shortfall despite heated opposition from industry and consumer associations. State Minister of Food Affairs and Horticulture AM Saefuddin, speaking to the media after meeting with President B.J. Habibie, said the plan was intended to ensure an adequate supply of meat at affordable prices on the domestic market.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Inflation in January ballooned to 2.97%
Inflation in January ballooned to 2.97% JAKARTA (JP): Inflation in January rose to 2.97 percent from 1.42 percent in December, sending the year on year inflation to 70.66 percent, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said on Tuesday. BPS chief Sugito Suwito said the higher inflation was primarily caused by the soaring prices of foodstuffs and clothes during the New Year and Idul Fitri holidays.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hate, fear or jealousy?
Hate, fear or jealousy? In the last few months the Armed Forces' (ABRI) role has come under attack from many sides, such as from students, political parties, organizations and so on. It seems that ABRI can do no good anymore and it often becomes the scapegoat for all kinds of incidents. What is the underlying factor of this attitude?
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hotel workers go on strike
Hotel workers go on strike DENPASAR, Bali: Hundreds of employees of the Kartika Plaza Hotel in Kuta, 15 kilometers south of Denpasar, have gone on strike in protest at unfair treatment meted out by managers in the hotel. The strikers called for a number of their managers to be dismissed for "treating staff inhumanely", Antara reported on Tuesday. The strike, which began at 8 a.m., brought the five star hotel to a standstill, the agency said.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
The election agenda
The election agenda With Monday's announcement of the campaign and voting schedule for the June general election, this country's first truly free election in 44 years -- and only the second in the republic's 54 years of existence -- is a step closer to becoming reality. As might be expected given heavy pressure in terms of time available and political acceptability, it is an exceptionally tight schedule, and one bound to invite criticism on several of its points.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
City police investigate four cases of vehicular theft
City police investigate four cases of vehicular theft JAKARTA (JP): City police are investigating four vehicular thefts that occurred in the capital over the last two days and arrested a man on Tuesday who was believed to be involved in one of the thefts. Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said two of the thefts involved motorcycles and the other two involved cars. The thefts occurred in North Jakarta, South Jakarta and Depok.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
City Hall probes irregularities causing losses of Rp 139.32b
City Hall probes irregularities causing losses of Rp 139.32b JAKARTA (JP): The city administration team is investigating irregularities in the implementation of various development projects, which have caused losses amounting to about Rp 139.32 billion, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said on Tuesday. Kahfi said officials of the city administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs would meet this week to discuss irregularities in the cases.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Civil servants told to come clean
Civil servants told to come clean JAKARTA (JP): City administration employees active in political parties, including the ruling Golkar, were urged on Tuesday to inform the city employee affairs bureau as soon as possible. Agus Syarifudin, head of the employee regulations subdivision, said hundreds of the 70,880 civil servants in the administration were active as executives in Golkar's Jakarta chapter. Chapter 7 of Government Regulation No. 12/1999, signed into law by President B.J.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bakin chief: Power needs control to prevent cruelty
Bakin chief: Power needs control to prevent cruelty JAKARTA (JP): The power of the government and military needs to be controlled through a check and balance mechanism so as to avoid a repetition of past atrocities, chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) Lt. Gen. (ret.) Z.A. Maulani said on Monday in Aceh.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tourism investments may get tax holiday after all
Tourism investments may get tax holiday after all JAKARTA (JP): The government is considering extending a system of tax-incentives designed to attract new investment to include projects related to tourism, an official from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said on Tuesday. Director General of Tourism I Gde Ardhika said the ministry viewed income tax relief as a crucial way to encourage new investment in the beleaguered tourist industry.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
House seeks greater say in deciding BI's key staff
House seeks greater say in deciding BI's key staff JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives insisted on Tuesday that Bank Indonesia retain its bank supervisory role and that the House have a greater say in deciding the central bank's key personnel.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
16 die of dengue fever in Palu
16 die of dengue fever in Palu PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 16 out of 486 people who contracted dengue fever here last year died as a result of the disease, Antara reported on Monday. The head of the local health agency office, Muslimah L. Gadi, said late treatment of the disease contributed to the deaths. Muslimah said that figures of 16 fatalities and 486 sufferers were a substantial increase on 1997, when only three deaths resulted from a small number of cases.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Slowdown in oil supply too late to save 1999 price
Slowdown in oil supply too late to save 1999 price LONDON (Reuters): A slowdown in oil supply growth is not coming fast enough to prevent an even deeper price crisis for oil producers this year, a Reuters poll of industry experts found on Tuesday. Asian economies are too depressed to siphon off a stubborn global stock glut and suffering producers will have to cut more output just to get prices back to last year's sunken level, the pundits said.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Global currencies
Global currencies Value Net Changes 1 Day 1 Month 1999 Japanese yen 113.055 -1.900000 +1.68% +0.48% +0.48% Euro 0.8846 +0.000313 -0.04% -3.35% -3.09% Poundsterling 0.6080 -0.000981 +0.16% -0.94% -0.92% Singaporean dollar 1.6868 -0.006000 +0.36% -1.97% -2.21% Australian dollar 1.5658 -0.007143 +0.46% +4.65% +4.65% Base Currency: USD; Date: Feb. 2 at 11:32 GMT Source: Bloomberg
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
North Jakarta gets new police chief
North Jakarta gets new police chief JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman installed Lt. Col. Wisjnu Amat Sastro as the new chief of North Jakarta Police Precinct on Tuesday, replacing Lt. Col. Setyanto. Wisjnu, who graduated from the Police Academy in 1978, is a former chief of Pasuruan Police in East Java. The installation was confirmed in a modest ceremony held in heavy rain at the North Jakarta Police Precinct's compound.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 2, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 -25 110,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 103,000 Alumindo Light Metal 250 0 102,000 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 200 0 0 Aneka Tambang 1,475 0 1,963,000 Anwar Sierad 100 0 0 Apac Centertex Corp.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rat catchers busy in KL airport
Rat catchers busy in KL airport KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Pest-busters have caught more than 3,000 rats at Malaysia's new international Kuala Lumpur airport since it opened in June. The national Bernama news agency quoted transport minister Ling Liong Sik as saying late on Monday that the pest problem at the airport was under control. He said that by the end of January, a total of 3,340 rats had been caught and destroyed.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia attacks U.S. soya bean farmers
Malaysia attacks U.S. soya bean farmers KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, complained Tuesday that soya bean farmers in developed countries were depressing prices in the international oil and fats market. Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said a glut of soya oil in the world market towards the end of last year pulled down palm oil prices by about US$100 a ton in the last two months.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
U.S. may lift sanctions against India: Rubin
U.S. may lift sanctions against India: Rubin WASHINGTON (Agencies): Indian moves toward signing a global nuclear test ban treaty have led the United States to consider lifting some of the sanctions imposed after New Delhi's nuclear tests in May, the State Department said on Monday. Spokesman James Rubin told reporters that a U.S. delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had been encouraged by weekend talks with Indian officials on the nuclear proliferation issue.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mother seeks help to find missing American daughter
Mother seeks help to find missing American daughter JAKARTA (JP): A 32-year-old woman visited the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on Tuesday to request assistance in finding and getting back her four-year-old daughter, who she said was taken away by her American ex-husband. Ira El Tuhari told the institute's lawyers that Scot Avery Case, 40, a former employee of Sheraton Timika Hotel in Irian Jaya, took their daughter Kiara Sandhi Case without her knowledge on Feb. 20 last year.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tribunal told of another senior officer's involvement
Tribunal told of another senior officer's involvement JAKARTA (JP): A military tribunal trying 11 Army Special Forces (Kopassus) soldiers charged with abducting political activists in the last months of the Soeharto regime heard evidence on Tuesday of the involvement of yet another higher- ranking officer who has yet to be prosecuted. A witness, First Lt. Mujiono of the Jakarta Police Detective unit, testified that his superior Lt. Col.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Crisis centers established for family planning
Crisis centers established for family planning JAKARTA (JP): The state minister of population is setting up crisis centers to monitor the family planning program throughout the country, an official said Tuesday. Maswar Noerdin, first assistant of State Minister of Population told The Jakarta Post their jobs will include the supervision of distribution of contraceptives, data gathering of family planning participants, and providing information and holding various trainings for the people.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
CPO export tax will continue to encourage smuggling: Kadin
CPO export tax will continue to encourage smuggling: Kadin JAKARTA (JP): The government's move to cut the export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) from 60 percent to 40 percent will not help farmers and plantations firms, but will continue to encourage smugglers, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) said on Tuesday.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Anwar report to be published
Anwar report to be published KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The Malaysian government will make public the findings of an independent panel investigating injuries sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim suffered in police custody, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said. "What is the point of setting up the inquiry if the report is not to be made public," the official Bernama news agency quoted Mahathir as telling reporters on Langkawi Island off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Two-fisted fun
Two-fisted fun In response to Gandhi Sukardi's musings in "Congratulations to Yayuk" in the Feb. 2 edition of The Jakarta Post, it is perfectly legal to play tennis ambidextrously, switching from the left to right hand or vice versa. A top American women's player, Beverly Fleitz, reached the Wimbledon singles final in the 1950s using the method. And there is also a local connection.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mia to marry boyfriend
Mia to marry boyfriend JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's current top woman badminton player Mia Audina will marry her boyfriend Tylio Lobman on Feb. 26, an official confirmed on Tuesday. Executive chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Karsono said 18-year-old Mia, heir apparent to former badminton queen Susi Susanti, does not plan early retirement despite her forthcoming marriage to her Suriname-born boyfriend.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Feb. 2, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pioneer to build new plant
Pioneer to build new plant JAKARTA (JP): Corn seed producer PT Pioneer Hibrida Indonesia said on Tuesday it would build a new hybrid corn seed plant in Malang, East Java, to increase its production capacity and boost exports. Pioneer country manager Andy Gumala said the plant, expected to be the biggest hybrid corn seed facility in Asia with production capacity of 15,000 tons per annum, would cost US$7 million. Construction will start in July, he said.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Futures commodities bourse to start by early 2000
Futures commodities bourse to start by early 2000 JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is set to establish by August its first futures commodity exchange, which is to be operational later this year or early next year, one of the exchange's advocates said on Tuesday. The vice chairman of the Federation of Indonesian Vegetable Oils and Fats Associations, Tarmidzi Rangkuti, said 25 palm oil and coffee exporters had grouped themselves into "promoters" to set up the privately run Indonesian Commodity Exchange.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Unrest greets ministers, rights activists in Ambon
Unrest greets ministers, rights activists in Ambon JAKARTA (JP): Fresh violence on Tuesday greeted the arrival of six Cabinet ministers and a fact-finding team of the National Commission on Human Rights in the riot-torn city of Ambon, Maluku, where at least 61 people were killed in religious clashes last month. The ministers were sent by President B.J. Habibie to assess the widespread damage left by more than five days of inter- communal troubles between Muslims and Christians.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Residents protest textile factory over pollution
Residents protest textile factory over pollution BOGOR (JP): Dozens of Nanggewer villagers living near the Kalibaru River in the Cibinong subdistrict here continued on Tuesday to demand that a nearby textile factory immediately stop dumping its wastewater into the river. The villagers said the waste from PT Surya Abadi Tekstil had badly polluted the river and regularly killed tons of fish being farmed in ponds on the side of the river.
Wed, 03 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Restaurants pressed to stay open
Restaurants pressed to stay open By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): Those were the days when Kenny ruled over two restaurants in the heart of Jakarta. His guests remember being treated like royalty feeding on meals fit only for a moghul. The ambience was made even more seductive when Kenny imported live musicians to sit on the floor and play traditional music from medieval India. Then the rupiah crashed, forcing Kenny to shrink his empire to a tiny kiosk in Pasaraya's basement food court.