Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 February 1999

50 articles found

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Riots and provocateurs

Riots and provocateursFrom MerdekaIt 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.

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...

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.

'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.

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.

Reconsidering our cultural image

Reconsidering our cultural imageBy 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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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. dollar 1 8,750.00 8,850.00 8,750.00 8,900.00Australian dollar 1 5,469.80 5,671.30 5,470.00 5,770.00Austrian schilling 1 719.13 731.15 - -Belgian franc 1 245.30 249.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

Restaurants pressed to stay open

Restaurants pressed to stay openBy 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.

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.

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...

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock 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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.