Archive: 26 July 1999
47 articles found
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
An entry-level notebook that is not to be taken lightly
An entry-level notebook that is not to be taken lightly By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): When it comes to designing notebooks, I believe we still have reason to respect Big Blue. The ThinkPads, as I've mentioned in this column time and time again, have always raised the standard of portable computer design. The 600 Series and the newly introduced 570 Series in particular are my clear favorites at the moment.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
New restaurant opened
New restaurant opened JAKARTA (JP): Hotel Mercure Rekso Hayam Wuruk in Jakarta's Chinatown announced over the weekend the opening of its new restaurant catering mainly to its Chinese patrons. Taking the original name of the hotel, the Chiao Tung restaurant will serve Chinese cuisine, including Cantonese and Szechuan specialities, hotel general manager Tristan Beau de Lomenie said. The hotel is managed by international hotel chain Accor Asia Pacific. (gis)
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Giant Garuda to be shown
Giant Garuda to be shown SURABAYA, East Java: The Westin Surabaya Hotel plans to display the biggest replica ever made of the Garuda Pancasila national symbol on Independence Day on Aug. 17. The giant replica will weigh 650 kilograms and measure 8.1 meters wide by 5.2 meters tall. It will be made of 300 kgs of coconut fiber, wire, rattan, bamboo and rope, the hotel's marketing and communication manager, Sri Rejeki, told Antara on Thursday.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Beetle lovers to hold meeting
Beetle lovers to hold meeting JAKARTA (JP): Volkswagen owners from 35 clubs throughout the country will meet here on Aug. 15 at the '99 VW Festival, to be held in the parking lot of the Jakarta Police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman. The one-day meeting will see various contests for Beetle lovers, event organizer R.B. Hariprasetio said over the weekend. There are prizes the Best Vintage VW, Best Custom, Best Interior and Best of the Show.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Nine infants die due to measles
Nine infants die due to measles KENDAL, Central Java (JP): Nine infants below five years of age in Telogopayung village here have died of measles in the past month. Mrs. Suwanto, the wife of the head of Plantungan district, which oversees the village, said on Sunday the babies could have been saved had they received proper medical attention. "I'm surprised to hear the news that the babies died, although I believe the disease could have been cured," she said.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Demand for industrial estates continues to fall
Demand for industrial estates continues to fall JAKARTA (JP): Demand for industrial estate land will decline in the coming year by as much as 75 percent to 77 percent of available supply due to political and economic uncertainties, leading property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle/PT Procon Indah said on Saturday. The total land sold at the end of the first half of 1999 was 79 percent of the total supply of 4,844 hectares, the consultant said in a biweekly property report.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Matahari striving to meet challenge from foreigners
Matahari striving to meet challenge from foreigners JAKARTA (JP): Retail giant Matahari Group chairman Hari Darmawan said on Sunday his group was striving to answer the challenge posed by the presence of aggressive foreign retail chains in the local market. "We have employed a concept emphasizing pleasing customers and enabling them to be happy during their shopping, and it works," Hari said, adding that there has been a significant rise in the number of customers at Matahari stores.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Activists call for political dialog with government on Aceh
Activists call for political dialog with government on Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Representatives from a number of organizations in Aceh on Saturday urged political dialog with the Indonesian government to help put an end to the violence in the province and attain independence from Jakarta. The call came at a meeting in Bangkok attended by representatives from various Aceh-based groups.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Slated multilevel ruling 'to curb fraud'
Slated multilevel ruling 'to curb fraud' JAKARTA (JP): Companies adopting multilevel marketing systems would be required to obtain a special license under the new regulation currently being prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a senior official said on Saturday. Director General of Domestic Trade Teddy Setiadi said the license for multilevel marketing, called the License for the Operation of Direct Sales (SIUPL), would be issued to curb possible fraud in multilevel businesses.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie backs Kuntoro on Pertamina
Habibie backs Kuntoro on Pertamina JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie put his weight behind Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto over the weekend, and supported the minister's plan to take over contract- awarding rights from state oil and gas company Pertamina. Kuntoro said the President had turned down a proposal from Pertamina, backed by legislators, that Pertamina, or a new state company to be formed by the government, be responsible for the awarding of contracts.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Thai fishermen to be deported
Thai fishermen to be deported MEDAN, North Sumatra: The North Sumatra immigration office will soon deport a dozen Thai fishermen who entered Indonesian waters illegally, Antara reported on Saturday. The fishermen were apprehended by a Navy patrol squad last month while fishing aboard a ship flying a Malaysian flag, provincial immigration office spokesman Imam Soeprapto told the news agency. He said the fishermen would be handed over to the Thai Embassy in Jakarta.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
TNI deputy commander
TNI deputy commander The swearing in and installation of Admiral Widodo AS as deputy commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) by President B.J. Habibie has brought about many unfavorable opinions about the reinstitution of this position. Some people are of the opinion that it is intended to serve the political needs of the TNI more than to fulfill the national defense and security's demand.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Adventures with 'kartu halo'
Adventures with 'kartu halo' On July 20, I called Telkomsel Pusat at 8282811, asking for their nearest branch in the West Jakarta area. They gave me the address and phone number of their branch on the third floor of Mal Taman Anggrek. I went to Telkomsel Mal Taman Anggrek as recommended, and was entertained by Yuli, the customer service officer, at about 10 a.m. From the very beginning, she appeared very impatient and cynical when I asked questions about my SIM Card (Kartu Halo Telkomsel).
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kite kills man
Kite kills man JAKARTA (JP): A 36-year-old bus conductor was electrocuted on Friday when his kite string came into contact with a high voltage cable at Pulogadung industrial estate in East Jakarta. According to a witness, Daryono was flying his kite under the power cables, and at about 4:45 p.m. the string of his kite landed on the high-voltage line. Iin, the witness, recalled that Daryono instantly fell to the ground when he was hit by the electricity, which burned most of his body.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Leaders pray for smooth MPR session
Leaders pray for smooth MPR session JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of major political parties and the military reached a consensus on Sunday to cooperate and work together for a peaceful and smooth General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), after the tense June 7 general election.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Economists warn of over confidence
Economists warn of over confidence JAKARTA (JP): Economists said on the weekend the upgraded revision of the country's macroeconomic assumptions made by the government and International Monetary Fund (IMF) were too optimistic, and warned that economic recovery was not around the corner yet.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
PGI criticizes plan on religious teaching
PGI criticizes plan on religious teaching JAKARTA (JP): The Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) urged Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono to reconsider the ministry's plan to require Christian schools to drop their tradition of teaching only Christianity to students. PGI said the obligation to provide teachers for other religions was against the spirit of Law No.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sowing discord
Sowing discord The new breakthrough by Amien Rais and other Islamic parties to form a reform faction and to propose Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, as a presidential candidate must be watched as an effort to sow discord in the PASO group consisting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Budget proposal rejected
Budget proposal rejected JAKARTA (JP): The city administration rejected a budget proposal for 282 development projects worth Rp 57 billion (US$8.38 million) in North Jakarta due to the limited availability of funds, an official said.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Redefining college education
Redefining college education By A. Chaedar Alwasilah BANDUNG (JP): This year nearly 480,000 senior high school graduates nationwide attended entrance exams to state universities, vying for approximately 72,600 seats. Indeed, it is high competition for admission to state colleges -- one has to outscore seven others. Due to the economic crisis, some parents have foregone sending children abroad and sent them to college at home instead.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Squatters incensed by plan to be removed
Squatters incensed by plan to be removed JAKARTA (JP): The government's plan to set up public facilities in Tanah Abang Bongkaran slum area in Central Jakarta hit a snag on Saturday. "We will not leave this area if the government does not give us a better place to live or pay us compensation to go back to our hometowns. We do not want to be transmigrated," said one of the senior squatters, who all claim to have lived in the area for more than 10 years.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Water rate hike sought in Bogor
Water rate hike sought in Bogor BOGOR (JP): City-owned water company PDAM Bogor threatened to put into effect a plan to distribute water on a rotating basis if members of the Bogor mayoralty council remained opposed to its proposal to raise water rates. "The company is losing money in its operation so we are forced to raise water rates," company spokesman E.E. Sulaiman said on Saturday. Sulaiman said the company was suffering losses amounting to Rp 450 per cubic meter of water produced.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian debutants want SEA Games gold
Indonesian debutants want SEA Games gold JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian pendekar (fighters) Heny Marhendrawati and Widya Astuti will make their international debut at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. As newcomers, they have the burden of upholding Indonesia's dominance in its traditional sport of pencak silat at the biennial event. "We were surprised when we were called to join the national training program for the SEA Games. But we are proud to do so.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Barongsai' dance attracts small crowd
'Barongsai' dance attracts small crowd JAKARTA (JP): The enchanting performances of orchestra, dance, and the Chinese barongsai dragon dance in the front yard of Fatahillah Museum in West Jakarta on Saturday unfortunately was enjoyed by only a small number of viewers.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN Regional Forum told to focus on security
ASEAN Regional Forum told to focus on security By Oei Eng Goan and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat SINGAPORE (JP): "The ARF must address common security concerns, otherwise ARF will in time be proved irrelevant," Singapore foreign minister S. Jayakumar ominously described the state of the region's only security consultation forum.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Panwaslu says government intervention unlawful
Panwaslu says government intervention unlawful JAKARTA (JP): The Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) said on Sunday the government had no right to take over from the General Elections Commission (KPU) if it fails to certify the poll results on Monday. Committee deputy chairman Mulyana W. Kusumah said in a televised interview that, although the president is officially responsible for the elections, there is no legal basis for the government to validate the election results.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Sketch Exhibition: Hitam Putih Jakarta, at Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., until July 29. * Photo Exhibition: by Anne-Marie Grobet and Charles Weber, at Gran Melia Jakarta, Jl.H.R. Rasuna Said Kav.X-0, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5268080), until Aug. 4. * Cartoon Exhibition: Makanan di Asia di Mata Kartunis, at Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia pledges to fight tuberculosis
Indonesia pledges to fight tuberculosis JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will fight to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis by 50 percent in the next five years with an integrated anti-TB program, Minister of Health F.A. Moeloek said on Friday. Addressing a seminar sponsored by the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA), Moeloek said tuberculosis, or TB, had become the third-biggest killer in Indonesia.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
IBRA repeats warning to closed bank owners to repay debts
IBRA repeats warning to closed bank owners to repay debts JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) warned on Saturday the owners of closed down Bank Centris, Bank Pelita and Bank Istismarat to immediately repay their debts to the government or risk legal action. The agency said in a media statement that it was continuing efforts to get firm commitments from the owners of the three banks to repay their debts.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Revocation of timber concessions will 'hurt' plywood industry
Revocation of timber concessions will 'hurt' plywood industry JAKARTA (JP): The government's recent move to revoke the concessions of several timber companies will severely hurt the country's plywood industry, according to the Indonesian Forestry Society. The society's general chairman, Sudradjat Dp., said on Friday at least five plywood mills had stopped producing due to the scarcity of logs, the main raw material.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
UIC restructures US$138.8m debt
UIC restructures US$138.8m debt JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed chemical producer PT Unggul Indah Corp. (UIC) announced on Sunday it had successfully restructured US$138.8 million in debt. The company said in a statement a debt restructuring agreement was reached with its 23 bank creditors after a series of negotiations which began in 1998. "We really appreciate the confidence and trust shown by the lenders to our management and our company's performance," UIC president Hartono Gunawan said.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
World leaders pay last respects to King Hasan II
World leaders pay last respects to King Hasan II RABAT (Agencies): World leaders joined Morocco's masses on Sunday in bidding a last farewell to King Hassan II, with his eldest son Mohammed VI succeeded him as the Arab world's youngest leader. Hassan, 70, a key ally of the West in the Mediterranean region and the Arab world, died on Friday after 38 years on the throne, officially of a heart attack following an acute lung infection.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
The antigraft law
The antigraft law The government seems to be very boastful about the new anticorruption law approved by the House of Representatives last week. By sponsoring the bill, B.J. Habibie's administration must have wanted to demonstrate its seriousness in the anticorruption drive, which has actually been going on for almost three decades.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Wiranto tells students to uphold democracy
Wiranto tells students to uphold democracy JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) expects students to continue to serve as a moral force and help uphold democracy, TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto said during a meeting with some 300 student leaders here on Saturday. "TNI hopes students continue to play their role as a moral force in upholding reform and democracy," said Wiranto, also the minister of defense and security, during the meeting organized by the Golkar-affiliated Students Group.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pencak silat upbeat about SEAG target
Pencak silat upbeat about SEAG target By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Pencak silat is known all over the world as Indonesia's martial art. In international tournaments, Indonesian athletes have always dominated the event. But for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month, Indonesia is tipped to only win eight of 21 golds on offer in the event. This figure is only half of Indonesia's victory total in the 1997 SEA Games here, where they won 17 of the 20 golds.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hotel back in business
Hotel back in business BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The Sheraton Hotel here resumed operations on Sunday after its employees went on strike on Saturday, Antara reported. Hotel general manager Nasir Mattusin said the striking employees dispersed just after dusk on Saturday. Several employees confirmed they went back to work on Sunday despite the fact that not all of their demands were met by management.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ten arrested over lottery ticket sales
Ten arrested over lottery ticket sales JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police arrested 10 people, including four teenagers, in Central Jakarta on Thursday for allegedly selling Singaporean lottery coupons, locally known as judi buntut. The arrests were made during an afternoon raid of a shop, where police also confiscated 160 coupon books, 10 calculators and Rp 4.48 million (US$598) in cash, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Saturday.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
More firms threatened with delisting
More firms threatened with delisting JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) over the weekend put another 36 listed companies on the watch list for possible delisting, the second batch after that consisting of 49 companies announced in late June. Companies on the watch list are those with unsound equity or doubtful business prospects as declared by their respective public accountants, JSX said in a statement referring to its existing listing regulation.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Daewoo has $9.9b in loans
Daewoo has $9.9b in loans SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's troubled Daewoo Group was saddled with US$9.9 billion in foreign currency loans substantiated by creditors at the end of June, officials said Saturday. It was the first official disclosure of overseas debt kept by Daewoo, which faces a potentially fatal liquidity crisis. Daewoo's overseas loans at the end of June included $6.84 billion extended by foreign banks to Daewoo's overseas entities, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) said.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Joint Communique on the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, 23-24 July 1999
Joint Communique on the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, 23-24 July 1999 This is the first of two articles of the Joint Communique on the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Singapore. 1. We, the Foreign Ministers of the ten ASEAN countries, met in Singapore from 23 to 24 July 1999 and renewed our commitment to work together to meet the challenges of a region undergoing significant political and economic changes. 2.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police seek man for cheating
Police seek man for cheating TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Police are attempting to locate the whereabouts of labor exporting firm PT Bina Setia Copora chairman Chung Ta, who is wanted for allegedly bilking job seekers out of up to Rp 1 billion (US$147,058). Tangerang Police detective chief Capt. Krisnandi said on Saturday it was better for Chung Ta, alias Hartono, to surrender or stern action would be taken against him.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Prointegration groups soften stance on UNAMET activities
Prointegration groups soften stance on UNAMET activities JAKARTA (JP): Prointegration militia groups in apparent realization that they cannot continue their hostile attitude toward the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) have taken a less confrontational stance in several subdistricts. In Raimea, Suai regency, the prointegration Mahidi militia left a UN voter registration booth after loitering outside the post for several days.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Truck stashed with TV sets hijacked
Truck stashed with TV sets hijacked JAKARTA (JP): A group of unidentified people hijacked a container truck carrying television sets on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road on Thursday evening. The container, with a still unknown number of TV sets, was loaded at PT Sanyo Electronics in the Cikarang industrial complex and was being transported to Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta, where it was to be loaded onto a ship for export.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Telkom partners propose earlier end of contracts
Telkom partners propose earlier end of contracts JAKARTA (JP): Joint operation (KSO) partners of state telecommunications company PT Telkom Indonesia have suggested an early termination of the contract and establishment of a new joint venture firm to solve the disputed KSO contract. Stephen R.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Five injured as tension envelops Maluku capital
Five injured as tension envelops Maluku capital AMBON, Maluku (JP): Tension gripped this Maluku capital on Sunday following overnight clashes involving residents of a downtown housing complex in Poka subdistrict. Five people were wounded and dozens of buildings damaged or burned in the unrest, the latest to rock Ambon after two months' respite. A mob also burned two cars. Chief of Pattimura Military Command Brig. Gen.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Use the Net to revitalize library networks
Use the Net to revitalize library networks By Muhartoyo JAKARTA (JP): The idea of library networking in Indonesia has been around since the 1970s. The idea was born of four main reasons which are still valid. First, librarians realize that not a single library can fulfill information needs of its users. Second, existing library collections should be intensively and properly utilized.
Mon, 26 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bogor's street kids needs help: Mayor
Bogor's street kids needs help: Mayor BOGOR (JP): Citing a limited budget, Bogor Mayor R. Iswara Natanegara called on the public on Saturday to help the mayoralty improve the lives of street children. "Please don't close your eyes to street children, street vendors, orphans and working children around us," Iswara said in his speech to mark National Children's Day at Bogor Botanical Gardens. The ceremony was attended by about 2,000 street children from the mayoralty.