Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 9 April 1999

53 articles found

Historic building razed

Historic building razedFrom Tempo magazineI hail from Tegal regency in Central Java. Although I have studied and worked in places outside of my birthplace, I am proud of my hometown, especially the development of community awareness.

Labor union holds worker festival

Labor union holds worker festival JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) will hold contests for workers in Jakarta and surrounding areas of Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi, Karawang and Serang on April 24 and April 25 here.

Angry mob attacks public hospital in West Kalimantan

Angry mob attacks public hospital in West Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): Troops fired warning shots on Thursday to disperse a group of people who attacked a public hospital in Singkawang, West Kalimantan.Antara reported that a group of Madurese attacked the Abdul Aziz General Hospital in the Sambas...

Army-linked body to lose forestry license

Army-linked body to lose forestry license JAKARTA (JP): The government will revoke logging rights owned by a foundation under the Ministry of Defense, Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution said on Wednesday.

Hiring assistant better for investors

Hiring assistant better for investors I feel sorry for Mr. Ng Yang Houg (whose letter Foreign investment handling was published on April 3) facing a dilemma whether he would use the service of a consultant or hire an employee.

No clear resolution in sight on taming sex and violence on TV

No clear resolution in sight on taming sex and violence on TVBy Brillianto K. Jaya JAKARTA (JP): The government, as well as and television viewers, are relieved to hear that the country's TV stations have agreed to minimize violence and sex in their broadcasts.

Salim Group defends UIC performance

Salim Group defends UIC performance SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia's Salim Group, which is trying to sell its 23 percent stake in Singapore's United Industrial Corp (UIC), said on Thursday it was pleased with the company's profit record."We are happy with UIC's performance.

Four arrested for alleged extortion

Four arrested for alleged extortion JAKARTA (JP): A police officer shot and injured two technical high school students and, with the help of bystanders, arrested two others for allegedly extorting money from bus passengers in East Jakarta late Wednesday.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

Tourist arrivals to RP drop

Tourist arrivals to RP drop MANILA (AP): The number of tourists visiting the Philippines is declining because of continuing regional financial turmoil and the crippling of national carrier Philippine Airlines, the Department of Tourism said Thursday.

The Purbalingga incident

The Purbalingga incident Yet another time bomb left by the New Order regime has exploded. On Friday last week, the thus far little known town of Purbalingga in the Banyumas regency of Central Java created an uproar.

Asia's crisis deeper, longer and more painful

Asia's crisis deeper, longer and more painful BANGKOK (AFP): Asia's economic crisis has inflicted deeper misery and dragged on for longer than anticipated, the United Nations said Wednesday in a report calling for sweeping reforms of the global financial system.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 8, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 -25 1,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 75 0 0 Alter Abadi 200 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal...

Unruly Mia likely to miss team events

Unruly Mia likely to miss team events JAKARTA (JP): The country's number one women's singles shuttler, Mia Audina, could be kept off the team for the Sudirman Cup and World Championships next month due to undisciplined behavior.

Language testing needs revolution

Language testing needs revolutionBy Bambang Sugeng YOGYAKARTA (JP): When the communicative methodology in language teaching was gaining momentum 20 years ago, one of its proponents reminded the rest of the world that new testing techniques were needed to be developed to accompany the speeding...

PDAM Jaya workers seek pay hike

PDAM Jaya workers seek pay hike JAKARTA (JP): Some 800 workers of city-owned water company PDAM Jaya staged a noisy protest in front of the company's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Thursday to demand an increase in their monthly wages.The rally, which began at 8:30 a.m.

Investments safe in RI, says ABRI

Investments safe in RI, says ABRI JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto appealed to foreign investors on Thursday not to leave the crisis-hit country, assuring them the military would maintain security.

Habibie, Prayogo confer on Chandra Asri's fate

Habibie, Prayogo confer on Chandra Asri's fate JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie summoned business tycoon Prayogo Pangestu on Thursday to discuss the fate of his company PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Center.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: Reflections Of Asia, Paul Beiboer, at Galeri Foto Cahya, Plaza Menteng, 2nd floor, Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto 79, Menteng (Phone: 3907623), Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until April 20.

Another landslide in Bali

Another landslide in Bali DENPASAR, Bali: A landslide demolished a house in Karangasem regency on the eastern tip of the island on Wednesday.No fatalities were reported.It was the second landslide caused by heavy rain within a week. A landslide on Sunday killed at least three people in Bangli.

Karol Kucera, a Slovenian?

Karol Kucera, a Slovenian? A photo caption entitled Greeting the hero, page 10, The Jakarta Post, April 6, 1999, mentioned Karol Kucera as a member of the Slovenian Davis Cup team.Karol Kucera is from the Republic of Slovakia, once a part of Czeckoslovakia.

Prointegration civilian militia rally in E. Timor

Prointegration civilian militia rally in E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of prointegration civilian militia members rallied in the East Timor town of Maliana on Thursday, claiming they were ready to die for Indonesia's sovereignty over the province, while the government announced here it had asked...

Obituary

Obituary Muslim politician Lukman Harun died on Thursday at the Jakarta Islamic Hospital due to health complications. He would have turned 65 next month.A Golkar legislator and executive of Indonesia's second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Lukman was known as a vocal political...

Butet's mimicry keeps Melburnians entertained

Butet's mimicry keeps Melburnians entertainedBy Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): If not for the fact that we were definitely in Melba Hall at the University of Melbourne, it would have been easy to be lulled into thinking we were somewhere in an Indonesian city, enjoying the hard-hitting, dangerously...

PSIS the underdog in Manado showdown

PSIS the underdog in Manado showdownBy Ivy Susanti MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Defending champion Persebaya Surabaya's coach Rusdy Bahalwan is fearful his players will be lulled into overconfidence against dark horse PSIS Semarang in the fifth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) final on Friday.

Will Sino-U.S. ties help solve Korea's problems?

Will Sino-U.S. ties help solve Korea's problems?By Landry Haryo Subianto JAKARTA (JP): Many analysts maintain that one solution to Korea can be found in stable Sino-United States relations. However, Sino-U.S. relations have always been marked by periods of ups and downs.

SE Asian currencies shuffle sideways amid few indicators

SE Asian currencies shuffle sideways amid few indicators SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies continued their sideways shuffle during Asian trading on Thursday.With few developments to give traders any incentive either to buy or to sell, both the Thai baht and the Indonesian rupiah...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on April 8, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,740.00 8,790.00 8,740.00 8,830.00Australian dollar 1 5,438.65 5,512.45 5,413.00 5,562.00Austrian schilling 1 682.94 691.84 - -Belgian franc 1 232.

House attacks govt over antigraft bill

House attacks govt over antigraft bill JAKARTA (JP): Legislators unanimously demanded on Thursday the government clarify why there were restrictions on a clause in the antigraft bill putting the onus of proof on the accused.

$35m loan to aid immigration office

$35m loan to aid immigration office JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General of Immigration has secured a US$35 million loan from Spain to upgrade its information system, director general M. Mudakir announced on Wednesday.He gave no other details on the Spanish creditor or terms of the deal.

Over 410,000 Jakartans registered for election

Over 410,000 Jakartans registered for election JAKARTA (JP): Some 7.1 percent of the city's 5.8 million eligible voters have registered for the June 7 general election as of Wednesday, the third day of the initial eight-day registration period, according to Governor Sutiyoso.

Mahathir's illness unsettles Malaysian politics

Mahathir's illness unsettles Malaysian politicsBy Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's latest illness has stirred anxiety in financial markets and revived speculation over Malaysia's political future once Asia's longest serving leader no longer holds power.

RI freighter sinks in Malacca

RI freighter sinks in Malacca KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian freighter caught fire and sank in the Strait of Malacca while on course for Dumai in Riau on Wednesday, a local daily reported.The freighter's five crew members were saved by Malaysian ship Ragamas 4.Capt.

Indonesian Heritage Society has new head

Indonesian Heritage Society has new head JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Indonesian Heritage Society, a volunteer organization here, bid farewell to chairwoman Mary de Tray on Thursday and greeted Liz Oley, who replaces De Tray.

Street vendors benefit from party attributs

Street vendors benefit from party attributs JAKARTA (JP): Although the official start of campaigning for the June general election is 42 days away, traders are setting up shop on the city's sidewalks with an array of party attributes.Eye-catching, colorful merchandise is available on Jl.

RI hailed over trade policies

RI hailed over trade policies JAKARTA (JP): The World Trade Organization (WTO) has praised Indonesia's efforts to foster free trade principles.Director General for International Industrial and Trade Agency Cooperation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Hatanto Reksodiputro said on Thursday the...

Ex-employees of closed banks vow to reveal bosses' misdeeds

Ex-employees of closed banks vow to reveal bosses' misdeeds JAKARTA (JP): More than 1,000 ex-employees from at least 18 closed banks threatened on Thursday to divulge incidents of malfeasance committed by their former employers unless their demands for more severance pay were met.

Two arrested with 30 boxes of drugs

Two arrested with 30 boxes of drugs JAKARTA (JP): A 58-year-old man and his 20-year-old son were arrested by police detectives with 30 boxes of drugs in front of a courier company in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, a police officer said.City police detectives chief Col.

Asia Pulp profit drops

Asia Pulp profit drops SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper Co. (APP) said Thursday net profit dropped 34 percent to US$142.9 million for the year ended Dec. 31 from $216.4 million in 1997.

KONI appoints more members

KONI appoints more members JAKARTA (JP): Despite its declaration of streamlining, the National Sports Council (KONI) on Thursday announced its appointment of 37 commission members to bring the number of its officials to 64.

Auditing rule to act as watchdog on party funding

Auditing rule to act as watchdog on party funding JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to curb money politics, voters will know who is funding the 48 parties contesting the polls through a ruling to be enacted shortly.

24 organizations receive UNDP funds for elections

24 organizations receive UNDP funds for elections JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the contribution of US$36 million to 24 Indonesian organizations for electoral activities.

Malaysia's Wong stuns RI's Budi at Japan Open

Malaysia's Wong stuns RI's Budi at Japan Open TOKYO (AFP): Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia stunned world number three Budi Santoso in straight games to claim a quarterfinals berth in the Japan Open badminton on Thursday.

Provinces may receive royalties directly from firms

Provinces may receive royalties directly from firms JAKARTA (JP): Local administrations soon may receive mining royalties and deadrent directly from mining companies.Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said on Thursday he proposed to the government that mining companies directly pay...

Ailing hotel industry may recover after poll: Analysts

Ailing hotel industry may recover after poll: Analysts JAKARTA (JP): The Bali hotel market's current trend to recovery is not reflected in other Indonesian hotel markets, analysts have said."The hotel industry in Jakarta will probably bottom up and start to improve after the June election, but it...

Opposition parties offer alternatives

Opposition parties offer alternatives JAKARTA (JP): Two major opposition political parties may introduce fundamental changes in Indonesia' economic policy if they win the upcoming June 7 general election.

Natuna gas row reflects RI 'resolve to end corruption'

Natuna gas row reflects RI 'resolve to end corruption' SINGAPORE (Reuters): The controversy stirred over the award of a S$500 million gas pipeline project reveals Indonesia's resolve to stamp out corruption rather than add to the country's political risk, analysts said on Thursday.

Iswara installed Bogor mayor

Iswara installed Bogor mayor BOGOR (JP): Bogor mayoralty secretary R. Iswara Natanegara has been appointed mayor for a five-year term, replacing Eddy Gunardi.The 51-year-old Padjajaran University graduate was installed as the 16th mayor of the town on Wednesday by West Java Governor R. Nuriana.

Propeller kills Navy member

Propeller kills Navy member SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A Navy member, Sgt. Syafrudin Jihat Surya Candra, died after being struck by a airplane propeller at Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan on Wednesday.

S&P downgrades ratings on Freeport, ALatief

S&P downgrades ratings on Freeport, ALatief JAKARTA (JP): International rating agency Standard & Poor's on Thursday downgraded ratings on Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. and PT ALatief Freeport Finance Co. BV., reflecting their exposure to Indonesia's intensifying fiscal and political risks.

SIA, JAL plan joint services

SIA, JAL plan joint services SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): National carrier Singapore Airlines Ltd. (SIA) said Thursday it will launch a joint thrice-weekly freighter service with Japan Airlines (JAL) between Singapore and Tokyo.

More opposition to planned Golkar Party function

More opposition to planned Golkar Party function SEMARANG (JP): Kendal joined Surakarta on Thursday in calling on Golkar Party to cancel a planned function with local supporters.A member of Kendal's elections supervisory committee, Sudarto, told The Jakarta Post the committee would ask local Golkar...

PT Timor managed by government

PT Timor managed by government I once read in a Jakarta daily that Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said that if by March 26, 1999, PT Timor Putera Nasional (PT TPN) had not settled its tax debt amounting to Rp 3.029 trillion, its assets would be managed by the government.

Indonesians are dream team of Asian pensions

Indonesians are dream team of Asian pensions SINGAPORE (Reuters): A quarter of Indonesians feel they would need over US$5 million to retire comfortably -- a huge nest-egg not even contemplated in Asia's biggest economy, Japan, according to a survey released on Thursday.