Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 19 August 1999

45 articles found

Government may suspend investigation into Soeharto's wealth

Government may suspend investigation into Soeharto's wealth JAKARTA (JP): The government suggested on Wednesday the investigation into the alleged corruption of ailing former president Soeharto would be suspended due to lack of evidence.

Thai bad loans at $71.6b

Thai bad loans at $71.6b BANGKOK (AFP): The central Bank of Thailand said Wednesday the troubled financial sector's non-performing loans stood at 2.65 trillion baht (US$71.6 billion) at the end of June. Bank of Thailand deputy governor Kitti Patpongpibul said non- performing loans accounted for 47.47 percent of total loans worth 5.59 trillion baht.

Flights suspended to Ambon amid renewed fighting

Flights suspended to Ambon amid renewed fighting JAKARTA (JP): The authorities halted for an indefinite period commercial flights to the riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon on Tuesday, due to renewed clashes between Muslims and Christians that have killed at least 100 people and injured 400 others since late last month. J.A.

Baht and peso plunge, but rupiah rebounds to 7,360

Baht and peso plunge, but rupiah rebounds to 7,360 HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Sales of the baht, sparked by investor fears over the health of Thailand's banking system, sent the Thai currency hurtling to a 10-month low on Wednesday. The Philippine peso also fell to its weakest level in nine months, but the Indonesian rupiah strengthened sharply as market players cut speculative long dollar positions.

PT Telkom mulls trimming stake in Satelindo

PT Telkom mulls trimming stake in Satelindo JAKARTA (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom is considering divesting part of its 22.5 percent stake in subsidiary Satelindo, company president A.A. Nasution said on Wednesday. "It is part of the restructuring plan to focus Telkom's activities on its core business as the provider of local telecommunications services," he said.

Es Teler opens in Malaysia

Es Teler opens in Malaysia JAKARTA (JP): Es Teler 77, a local fast food chain specializing in meatball soup and tropical fruit drinks, will open a franchise in Penang, Malaysia, in September following the success of its Singapore venture. A memorandum of understanding was signed on Aug. 16 by Es Teler 77 founder Sukyatno Nugroho and Penang franchise-holders Park Mei Yoke and Slew Swee Kit, the company announced on Wednesday.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya: Exhibition * Photo Exhibition: by Michel Semeniako (French), at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Darmokali 10 (Phone: 031 5678639), 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Aug. 31. Performance * Classical Piano Concert, By Renowned German Pianist, Hansjorg Koch, at Balai Adika, Hotel Majapahit, Mandarin Oriental, Jl. Tunjungan 65, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Aug. 23. Seminar * Works of French artist Michel Semeniako, at Petra Christian University, Jl. Siwalan Kerto 121 - 131, 9 a.m., Aug. 28.

Asia Pulp's rating affirmed

Asia Pulp's rating affirmed JAKARTA (Dow Jones): Standard & Poor's ratings agency Wednesday affirmed its "triple-C-plus" long-term foreign and local currency rating for Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., its guaranteed finance subsidiaries and its operating subsidiaries. It also said it removed the ratings from CreditWatch with negative implications.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 18, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 475 0 5,000 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 300 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 25 32,500 Alumindo Light Metal 1,000 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 400 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,475 25 1,825,500 Anwar Sierad 225 -50 129,500 APAC Centertex Corp.

Mahathir meets Zhu in China

Mahathir meets Zhu in China BEIJING (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad held talks here with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Wednesday, immediately after arriving for a three-day working visit, state television reported. Zhu warmly greeted Mahathir to start their meeting at the Great Hall of the People. He was quoted as saying that China was committed to a continual deepening of co-operation between the two countries in all respects.

Bank Bali confident of funds return

Bank Bali confident of funds return JAKARTA (JP): Head of Bank Bali's new management team, Douglas Beckett, said on Wednesday that a little more than half of the Rp 546 billion (US$74 million) funds missing from the bank were returned as of Wednesday. He said that some Rp 287 billion was placed in an escrow account with Bank Bali and of that total Rp 112 billion was transferred through Bank BNI on Monday and another Rp 175 billion through Bank Lippo on Tuesday.

Bourses told to delay new moves until after Y2K

Bourses told to delay new moves until after Y2K JAKARTA (JP): The Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam) banned local stock exchanges on Wednesday from issuing new trading regulations until after March 2000 to assure no disruption in preparations for the millennium bug. Bapepam's chairman Yusuf Anwar said that new changes in the regulations would require additional time to adjust the computer system of the Jakarta and Surabaya bourses.

Padang penitentiary set ablaze

Padang penitentiary set ablaze PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): An estimated 100 prisoners at the Muaro Penitentiary here, outraged over what they perceived as unfairness in the granting of Independence Day remissions, set fire to the facility on Wednesday. The incident took place only one day after prisoners at Gunung Sari Penitentiary and Detention Center in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, set fire to the complex and escaped.

Sutiyoso declares war on drug traffickers

Sutiyoso declares war on drug traffickers JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso declared a war against drug traffickers on Wednesday after disclosing that elementary school pupils were increasingly being targeted by drug pushers. Sutiyoso's tough words however may end up just that, amid allegations that military and police personnel could be behind some of the country's major drug syndicates. "Those in the drug ring should be punished.

PAL, Emirates Air tie up

PAL, Emirates Air tie up MANILA (Dow Jones): Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) said Wednesday it has signed a code-sharing agreement with Emirates Airline that will see PAL re-establish a presence in Dubai for the first time in 15 months. Under the agreement, which will be effective Sept. 1, PAL will get a seating allocation for each of Emirates' three flights per week between Manila and Dubai.

PLN probes corruption in purchase contracts

PLN probes corruption in purchase contracts JAKARTA (JP): State-owned electricity company PT PLN said on Wednesday it was collecting evidence on corrupt practices allegedly conducted by independent power producers (IPPs) in securing power purchase contracts from the state company. PLN president Adhi Satriya said PLN would ask courts to annul contracts secured by the IPPs through corrupt practices and to punish all those involved, including former PLN presidents.

Addicted son leaves at wit's end

Addicted son leaves at wit's end By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Household helper Nuriah and her husband Liman never dreamed that their eldest son would be a burden for the poor family. Nuriah and Liman, a taxi driver, live together with their five children in a slum area in Menteng, Central Jakarta. They had hoped that first son Iwan, 22, would be able to help earn money for his poor family, as his parents cannot afford to even pay school fees for their kids.

Bank Bali heeds clients' concerns

Bank Bali heeds clients' concerns JAKARTA (JP): Head of Bank Bali's new management team Douglas K. Beckett acknowledged on Wednesday that the high profile scandal at the bank was a "source of concern" to its customers. He declined to confirm whether there was a run on the bank. "We realize that the allegations are a source of concern to our customers.

Fire leaves 7,500 homeless

Fire leaves 7,500 homeless BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Fire gutted hundreds of buildings in Pelambuan village, leaving about 7,500 people from 1,500 families homeless on Tuesday. The fire broke out at 4:30 p.m, destroying two junior high schools, one elementary school, two mosques and hundreds of houses. The narrow path leading to the fire was impeded with strong winds which hampered fire fighters efforts to put out the blaze, the biggest here since early this year.

Key economic challenges outlined for new government

Key economic challenges outlined for new government JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning Boediono said on Wednesday the next government would encounter severely strained budget resources, emphasizing that foreign debt rescheduling measures would be imperative. Boediono said restricted government finances was one of the critical challenges the new government would inherit from the present administration.

Doctor suspects imported pudding after kids fall ill

Doctor suspects imported pudding after kids fall ill JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-six children were rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for treatment of suspected food poisoning after they ate imported chocolate pudding on Wednesday, a doctor at the hospital said. Five of the 26 children, who are students of a state-run elementary school in Central Jakarta, had to stay for further treatment at the hospital.

Distinction without honor

Distinction without honor In the beginning, medals of honor were awarded as part of a ritual to salute Indonesia's Independence Day. That independence was after all won through the sacrifice of lives and blood and by the mustering of an extraordinary patriotic elan. For that reason, each year pending Aug. 17, this nation selects those considered most worthy of being bestowed with the highest honors available, in accordance with their merits and the services they have rendered the nation.

E-commerce for exporters

E-commerce for exporters JAKARTA (JP): PT Insan Dharma Abadi and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) are now offering an Internet- based export-marketing service called the Indonesian Trading Zone (ITZ). Insan Dharma Abadi president Amalya Hasibuan said on Wednesday the worldwide Web site, launched in June, offered a free listing section which contained 2,600 domestic companies, and three ITZ membership options. These three options are Basic Kadin, Plus Kadin and ITZ-Premium.

Police arrested with drugs processed

Police arrested with drugs processed JAKARTA (JP): Seven city police sergeants who were allegedly caught red-handed smoking marijuana in a police dormitory in West Jakarta, have been locked up at Jakarta Police prisons, pending further investigation of their cases, an official said on Monday. City police spokesman said the cases were being seriously handled by police detectives to help complete the dossiers.

Mia to miss Singapore, Indonesia Opens

Mia to miss Singapore, Indonesia Opens JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's former starlet Mia Audina will miss the 1999 Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open badminton championships due to her dual jurisdiction problem. The secretary-general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Leo Chandra Wiranata, said on Wednesday that Mia's entry to the annual tournament, which offers US$150,000 in prize money, was not accepted by the organizing committee or the International Badminton Federation (IBF).

Mentally disabled boy hangs himself

Mentally disabled boy hangs himself TANGERANG (JP): A 12-year-old boy was found dead hanging from a tree near his house on Tuesday morning. Didin, in fourth grade at a Tangerang elementary school, was mentally disabled. He was the eldest of six children from a poor family. Didin's parents are divorced, and his remains were brought home by his stepfather, the fourth husband of Didin's mother.

BI speeds up fund transfer

BI speeds up fund transfer JAKARTA (JP): Starting today, Bank Indonesia (BI) will speed up its clearing and settlement process for fund transfers in Jakarta to less than 24 hours. Head of the Development of the National Payment System department of the central bank, Mohamad Ishak, said on Wednesday that under the new clearing and settlement process a fund recipient can obtain his money from the bank the next day following the transfer.

GM Indonesia projects sales of 2,000 cars

GM Indonesia projects sales of 2,000 cars SURABAYA (JP): General Motors Indonesia is projecting sales of between 1,600 and 2,000 units of its sport utility vehicles this year, the company's director for sales, marketing, service and parts, David Purcell, said on Wednesday. "Our East Java market is expected to contribute about 400 units of the total estimated sales," Purcell said following the official launch of Montera, the new Opel Blazer, for the East Java and Bali markets.

Troops in Aceh to be redeployed

Troops in Aceh to be redeployed By Imanuddin BANDA ACEH (JP): The Indonesian Military will soon redeploy Crack Riot Troops (PPRM) fighting separatist guerrillas in Aceh to strategic locations in the province or return them to barracks, Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto said here on Wednesday.

Claim your stolen car

Claim your stolen car JAKARTA (JP): City police are currently displaying 22 stolen vehicles confiscated from seven car stealing gangs in the past two weeks and have invited Jakartans whose cars have been stolen to examine them. According to detective chief Col.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali: Exhibition * Painting Exhibition: Anugerah Seni, by 36 Balinese traditional Artists, at Museum Puri Lukisan, Jl. Raya Ubud, Gianyar (Phone: 0361-975136), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., until Sept. 10. Music and Entertainment * Hard Rock Hotel, Jl. Pantai, Banjar Pande Mas, Kuta (Phone: 0361 761869): - Lobby Bar, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Macumba Band, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. Traffic Blues Band, Thursday, Siluet Band, Wednesday, Sunday. - Sand Island, 3 p.m.

Yunus surprised by ban of Butet's monolog VCD

Yunus surprised by ban of Butet's monolog VCD JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus was taken aback on Wednesday by a ban imposed on a filmed monolog of acclaimed impersonator Butet Kertaredjasa. Yunus, speaking before attending a Cabinet meeting on people's welfare at the Bina Graha presidential office, said he had yet to receive the report on the decision of the Film Censorship Institute (LSF).

Research needed to tap Indonesia's medicinal plants: LIPI

Research needed to tap Indonesia's medicinal plants: LIPI JAKARTA (JP): More research must be conducted if Indonesia is to tap the rich variety of its medicinal plants and encourage wider acceptance of traditional medicines. "Eighty percent of the world's population still depends on traditional medicine," said Dedy Karnaedi, director of the Bogor Botanical Gardens, part of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), at the opening of a seminar on traditional medicines on Monday.

Balinese dancers to join festival

Balinese dancers to join festival DENPASAR, Bali: The Balinese Art Center will send 70 dancers to the traditional and contemporary dance festival to be held in Germany from Nov. 1 to Nov. 16, Antara reported. "The troupe will perform modern Kecak and Tri Gambuh dances," the head of the art center, I Nyoman Nika Naya, said here on Wednesday. The Tri Gambuh dance, which is the mother of all Balinese dances, is well-known in Europe, especially in Germany and Sweden, since the 1920s, he said. (edt)

Missing trekkers found in Padang

Missing trekkers found in Padang PADANG, West Sumatra: Rescue workers have found all of the 152 people in Solok Regent Gamawan Fauzi's entourage who went missing on Aug. 12 when they trekked through forested areas along Batang Anai river. The search continued on Wednesday after a week-long effort involving locals as well as military and police personnel. The team found the last missing people and brought them home. The trek was planned by Gamawan to commemorate the Aug.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Aug. 18, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.

Is Bali being snowed under by megaprojects?

Is Bali being snowed under by megaprojects? By I Wayan Juniartha DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A heated debate has sprung up concerning plans for a huge five-star hotel in Sendang Pasir area, Buleleng regency, and its wider impact on the environment and local community. Enthusiastically welcoming the plan for hotel, which will have a 2,000-room capacity, is the chairman of Bali's Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, I Gde Wiratha.

Rp 44m taken in armed robbery in Kelapa Gading

Rp 44m taken in armed robbery in Kelapa Gading JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Police detectives are still seeking two armed men robbers shot a 54-year-old man during a robbery at midday on Monday at Kelapa Gading. According to police chief Lt. Col. Wisnu Amat Sastro, his men are still in the dark about the identities of the two criminals, who were reportedly armed with a revolver and rode a Yamaha RX King motorcycle. "We have no leads so far about them or their motorcycle," officer Wisnu said.

Censorship board rejects monolog VCD

Censorship board rejects monolog VCD JAKARTA (JP): Everyone, including artists, thought reform would bring greater freedom of expression. It turns out they were mistaken. Butet Kartaredjasa, dubbed the king of the monologue for his rare talent of impersonating the voices of public figures, might be the first to realize reform has not brought significant change for artists, including greater freedom of expression.

Sunken Japanese ship spotted

Sunken Japanese ship spotted BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Divers have spotted an old Japanese ship during a survey of a location for an underwater photography contest in the Sunda Straits south of Sumatra, Antara reported. "The ship, which is dozens of meters in length, could have sunk decades ago," a senior diver of the Corono Diving Club, Sinek Kurniawan, said here on Wednesday. Kurniawan said the club was told a Japanese ship sank near Sebuku island in the Sunda Straits many years ago.

Soeharto may leave hospital soon: Doctor

Soeharto may leave hospital soon: Doctor JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto could be discharged from hospital in the next few days if he shows rapid improvement, a senior doctor said on Wednesday. "He should be set to return home in the next few days as his health condition is improving," said the doctor leading Soeharto's medical team, Ibrahim Ginting. Ginting said Soeharto's condition had not deteriorated since his admission last Saturday to Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.

Focusing on water supply system in Indonesia

Focusing on water supply system in Indonesia By Muhammad Sauri Hasibuan JAKARTA (JP): Involving the private sector in infrastructure development is much more complex than people originally thought and requires a level of sophistication on the part of government that takes time and experience to develop. In some way, the responsibility on the government to guide the process is even greater than when the system was almost exclusively public.

Seven East Timorese students injured in Maliana clash

Seven East Timorese students injured in Maliana clash By Ridwan Max Sijabat and Lorenco Vicente Martins DILI, East Timor (JP): At least seven students were injured and two houses burned down on Wednesday in a clash between groups for and against independence in Maliana, Bobonaro, some 150 kilometers south of here. Ernesto Ate, 24, had his arm severed in the violence, and Mario dos Reis, 21, and Jose Candido Marques, 22, suffered serious injuries to their legs from arrows shot at them.

Reports of Indonesians joining Singapore's military

Reports of Indonesians joining Singapore's military JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore is studying recent reports a number of Indonesians have become members of Singapore's military after joining the island-state's conscription program. "Indonesians wishing to join the military in Singapore should first obtain a permit from the Ministry of Justice as Indonesia only recognizes one nationality," Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore H.B.L.

UNAMET off the rails?

UNAMET off the rails? There has been a great deal said and written by various parties regarding the failure of the Indonesian Police to maintain security in East Timor, collaboration between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the proautonomy militias as well as various other well-versed and frequently repeated moans, complaints and criticism that Indonesia is acting wrongly or insufficiently in one arena or another in the lead-up to the referendum on Aug. 30, 1999.