KL badminton chief must go: Sidek JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia's Nusa Mahsuri coach Misbun Sidek said on Saturday Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan should stick to his plan to quit after his team's disappointing Thomas Cup showing. "Whatever the decision made by the BAM Council members, Fadzil should stand firm with his pledge to quit.

Calm returns to capital despite minor demonstration JAKARTA (JP): Calm returned to Jakarta on Saturday, although some 200 student protesters, grouped under the City Network (Jarkot), made another effort to march to former president Soeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, in the afternoon. The Saturday afternoon protest was held just one day after students, in collaboration with youths and residents, vandalized and set ablaze military vehicles on Jl. Diponegoro and Jl.

Traditional tooth filing ceremony in today's Bali By Degung Santikarma DENPASAR (JP): A small army of Balinese, dressed in traditional sarongs and headdresses and sporting walkie-talkies and lighted batons, have been deployed to direct traffic. From behind barricades that warn -- "be careful - religious ritual" -- they wave cars of arriving guests through the gates of a lavish home.

Erratic Amien From Neraca I formerly admired Amien Rais for what I thought was his consistency in fighting corruption, collusion and nepotism. Unfortunately, my admiration has dimmed with each passing day. The outstanding Amien has now become the fussy Amien.

Yogyakarta lures tourists with 'bekakak' Text and photos by R. Agus Bakti YOGYAKARTA (JP): A bride and the groom are always treated in a special way. Everybody gives them privileges and spoils them with attention and gifts. In Ambarketawang, a village in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, bride and the groom dolls also receive special treatment -- but not in a nice way. They are "slaughtered" as offerings to avoid calamity.

C. Java athletes lack of budget SEMARANG (JP): The Central Java National Games (PON) contingent still suffers a Rp 550 million (US$65,050) deficit although it has received funds from the Provincial Budget of Rp 13.5 billion and from the Central Java Sports Fund Foundation (Yadora) of Rp 1.2 billion. The contingent treasurer Qoriyah said Saturday that the deficit was caused by unexpected medical expenses for some athletes who had to be hospitalized after suffering illness during training.

Getting old is unavoidable, but not a crime Elderly people face complex hidden problems. The Jakarta Post's contributor Mehru Jaffer reveals the facts in conjunction with the National Day of the Elderly that falls on May 29. JAKARTA (JP): Once upon a time Arifin Hardgakusuma was a fairly affluent businessman. He owned a leather factory in Jakarta. He was able to afford an education in the Netherlands for his younger brother and he traveled to the USA.

Arts Agenda Cultural Discussion and Performance on the Bissu Community at The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, 2nd floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62, Jakarta 12190, on June 6 and June 7. For centuries, the Bissu community of South Sulawesi has been wisely preserving their rituals, language, oral traditions, dances and visual arts, which have only been truly understood by the community's members.

President cancels plan to open Papua Congress JAKARTA (JP): Presidential aides confirmed here on Saturday that President Abdurrahman Wahid has canceled plans to open Monday's Papua Congress in Jayapura, over fears that his presence would be interpreted as tacit support for the province's independence.

Allowance for Angie in French Open JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) met Saturday and approved financial assistance for junior girls singles hopeful, Angelique Widjaja, to compete in the French Open junior tournament next week. Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said Saturday that the organization decided not to provide airfare but opted to provide a cash allowance. However, he declined to mention the amount. "I don't know how much allowance Pelti will provide.

National Gallery needs private sector involvement By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): In Mungkid, Central Java, the Museum Widayat stands as the bastion of Widayat's art world and his circle of influence. In Yogyakarta, everyone knows of the unique Museum Affandi, which certainly reflects the character of this Indonesian art maestro.

Delicious meals for those tired for eating out Cash Cow Burgers; By Julia Philipp; Times Book International, Singapore, 2000; 128 pages; US$9.5 JAKARTA (JP): Julia Philipp may hold a MBA from top school Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, but that does not make her compromise when it comes to meals. The lady may have studied business management but her attitude toward food is rather philosophical. Philipp believes that consuming too much fast food is like living on borrowed time.

World population growing older due to better care JAKARTA (JP): Of the approximately 580 million elderly people in the world today, about 355 million live in developing countries. By 2020, more than 1,000 million people aged 60 years and older will be living in the world. More than 700 million of them will be in developing countries out of which 29 million will be in Indonesia.

Today's menu: Bad food, bad service, bad deal By Aida Greenbury JAKARTA (JP): With his nose pointed up, his right hand supporting a tray full of perfectly arranged plates, the waiter elegantly approached our table. Without any mistake, he placed each plate of food on the table according to our order. "Bon apetite!" I said. Finding myself only a few seconds later, hardly able to swallow the first spoonful of minestrone.

Musings on using the Internet JAKARTA (JP): If you asked most Indonesian people about whether they have ever lost money, or been victims of fraud, or caught a computer virus on the Internet, you would feel relieved because most would say, "No". Unfortunately, those people would also ask, "What is the Internet?" Yes, the number of people who know the Internet in Indonesia is still very small compared to the total population.

Government must change tourism policy Tourism is vital for generating foreign exchange revenues, but facts show that the industry is in turmoil. While earnest work to lure tourists back remains unfruitful, fresh violence hit the capital city of Jakarta on Friday. How can we paint a better picture to attract visitors? The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana attempts to find some answers.

Crackdown a letdown as illegal loggers fly the coop Text and photos by PJ Leo TARAKAN, East Kalimantan (JP): As the helicopter landed in the Kalimantan jungle, the armed soldiers jumped off one by one, ready to fight the enemy. Their mission was to curb rampant illegal logging and smuggling which has been carried out for many years, with the timber sent to neighboring Malaysia.

Dita meets calling to fight for oppressed By Emmy Fitri Hastuti JAKARTA (JP): Dita Indah Sari, 27-year-old labor activist, shows her true concerns when she speaks at length about the hard life of laborers and their oppressed aspirations amid the current strong wave of capitalism and industrialism. "It still has a long way to go and we must admit that our labor movement is very young. It was only last year that we were allowed to have labor unions and a labor party," Dita says.

Formal talks launched on release of RP hostages BANDANG, Philippines (AFP): Government negotiators and rebel leaders Saturday held their first formal talks over the release of 21 mostly foreign hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf group. "The negotiators and the (Abu Sayyaf) met for the formal meeting to secure the release of the 21 hostages and study the demands of the rebels," a close aide of top government negotiator Roberto Aventajado told reporters.

Guess What: Ciputra Property tycoon Ciputra said he had enough with KKN, an Indonesian acronym for corruption, collusion and nepotism, condemning it as the cause of the country's economic and political calamities. So fed up is he with KKN that he vowed before ministers, foreign investors and journalists to stay away from it for the rest of his life. "I promise that I will never again deal with KKN," he told a seminar on trade and investment early this week.

Group attacks police at boardinghouse BOGOR (JP): A Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer was hurt and two motorcycles were destroyed on Friday evening when a group of about 75 men attacked a boardinghouse in Kedung Halang. The attack on the boardinghouse rented by Brimob officers was believed to be the continuation of a dispute between the officers and members of the 10th/76 Artillery Battalion in Ciluar which erupted last Sunday.

The fall of a Deity By Putu Arya Tirtawirya In his living room, in the last of the evening's fading light, High Priest Ida Pedanda Madi Sugriwa paced back and forth as he ground his false teeth on the stem of his cold pipe that jutted outward from his face beneath a white mustache streaked with gray from the near-constant billows of tobacco smoke pouring from the tunnels of his prominent nose. His nostrils and the pipe's bowl were strikingly similar in appearance.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Variety Show 10:00 Music 11:00 Film: Dos Mujeres 12:00 p.m. TV Drama 1:00 TV Drama 2:30 Teen Program 3:00 Sports 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Tourism Program 5:30 Sports 6:00 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Sports 8:00 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Culture Program 10:30 Music Program 2 4:30 p.m. Music 5:30 Culture Program 6:30 Documentary 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 8:30 TV Drama TPI 5:30 a.m.

Thailand strokes ahead at SEA Age Group event By Lukman Natanagara DENPASAR (JP): Thailand continued its supremacy in the 24th Southeast Asia (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships on Saturday by sweeping 12 more gold medals at the Bali Cliff pool. Thailand tops the medal tally with 24 golds, 14 silvers and 12 bronzes.

Twenty-for hours with vegetable seller Jarmi Vegetable seller Jarmi thinks she may be about 50 years of age -- like many elderly Indonesians, she does not know the exact year of her birth. A trader all her life, Jarmi has been operating from a stall at Pasar Rumput, South Jakarta, for over 20 years. Born in Cirebon, West Java, she lives in Manggarai, South Jakarta, with her husband, Matayasin, six children, ranging in age from 16 to 28, and her blind mother. "It's always an early start for me.

HIV screening of foreigners SINGAPORE (AP): The government on Saturday defended laws obliging foreigners to undergo an AIDS test and prohibiting those who have contracted the HIV virus from remaining in Singapore. Under Singaporean law, foreigners who want to live permanently or work in the city-state for over six months must undergo a medical examination, including an AIDS test. If they have the HIV virus, they cannot work here.

Women giving their all for others By Barbara Anello JAKARTA (JP): The talk was animated over dinner at a chic restaurant in Jakarta. It ranged from topics as disparate as Fifth Avenue fashion, to the depletion of species and forests throughout the archipelago, to the skills of Indonesian women, the quality of their health and living conditions today in Balinese mountain villages, refugee camps in Timor and in Java's largest cities.

A do-it-yourself spa job in the home By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Spas are the in-thing at Indonesian hotels and fitness centers. Call it the ultimate in self-gratification or merely part of the holistic approach to putting both mind and body on an even keel, but spas are opening their doors across the city. They have even received the lofty stamp of approval from major women's magazine Femina as the latest "trend".