Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 4 May 2000

60 articles found

Between IBRA and Danaharta

Between IBRA and Danaharta This is the first of two articles by Sidhesh Kaul, a Jakarta- based regional commentator on economic and political issues, on bank restructuring efforts in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Salary hike for public-service doctors

Salary hike for public-service doctors JAKARTA (JP): Doctors and dentists assigned to community health centers got a government pledge on Wednesday to raise basic salaries by 100 percent.But it took a personal telephone call from Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo to convince doctor and dentist...

Rupiah undervalued due to volatile politics

Rupiah undervalued due to volatile politics JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah is undervalued due to lingering volatility on the Indonesian political front, according to an executive of a foreign hedge fund."Theoretically the rupiah is still undervalued.

New Formula One magazine launched

New Formula One magazine launched JAKARTA (JP): Formula One racing enthusiasts need no longer search for magazines abroad about the sport as a new racing publication was launched here on Wednesday.The first edition of F1 Racing contains 120 pages and is priced at Rp 20,000.

SE Asia urged to boost support for chemical weapons treaty

SE Asia urged to boost support for chemical weapons treaty SINGAPORE (AFP): Southeast Asian nations were urged on Wednesday to strengthen support for an international treaty banning the production and use of chemical weapons.

E-stock trading launched

E-stock trading launched SINGAPORE (AP): Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp.'s stock brokerage unit Wednesday launched its online stock trading system amid an increasingly competitive market and plunging brokerage fees.The Internet site, www.iOCBC.

U.S. sees improvement in RI protection of IPR

U.S. sees improvement in RI protection of IPR JAKARTA (JP): The United States government has seen a remarkable improvement in Indonesia's protection of intellectual property rights and has accordingly moved the country down to Watch List from Priority Watch List, the government announced here on...

ASEAN swap plan needs $20b

ASEAN swap plan needs $20b BANGKOK (Dow Jones): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to greatly increase the scope of its currency swap plan with its northern neighbors, China, South Korea, and Japan, for it to work, Japan's former Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs...

PDI Perjuangan and Golkar are still worlds apart

PDI Perjuangan and Golkar are still worlds apart Amid signs of cooperation between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar, lecturer in politics Cornelis Lay says it would be too risky for PDI Perjuangan to join forces with the former ruling party.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on May 03, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,498.00 8,498.00Australian dollar 1 4,420.07 5,013.82Austrian schilling 1 495.04 561.68Belgian franc 1 168.86 191.60Brunei dollar 1 4,362.85 4,947.60Canadian dollar 1 5,042.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 3, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 775 0 0 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 400 -25 200,500 Alakasa Industrindo 925 175 8,500 Alfa...

'Mystical Machine Made in Indonesia' stuns audiences

'Mystical Machine Made in Indonesia' stuns audiencesBy Prasetyohadi JAKARTA (JP): This may be an unnecessary inquiry but a valid one nonetheless: Do you find it disturbing when you realize that technology, a human achievement that is supposed to make life easier, ends up making your life more...

Military witnesses in Aceh trial defend shooting

Military witnesses in Aceh trial defend shooting BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Three military witnesses testified on Wednesday that troops fired in self-defense after Islamic leader Tengku Bantaqiah and his followers attacked them in Beutong Ateuh village, West Aceh, last year.Second Cpl.

SingTel buys 30% of CyberCity

SingTel buys 30% of CyberCity JAKARTA (JP): Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has bought a 30 percent share of PT CyberCity Indonesia (CCI), which is developing a 10-hectare site in Kemayoran for domestic and international Internet-related businesses.

Act firmly on Aceh rebels!

Act firmly on Aceh rebels! If we read the news in our dailies, especially about the violence in Aceh, we cannot help feeling that the situation there is going from bad to worse. The police are attacked almost every day and casualties among civilians and members of the police are mounting.

Bangkok sends invite to N. Korean FM

Bangkok sends invite to N. Korean FM BANGKOK (AFP): North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Paek Nam-Sun has been formally invited by Thailand to visit in July at the time Bangkok hosts the annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Thai foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

South Jakarta court annuls mining agreement

South Jakarta court annuls mining agreement JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court has annulled an agreement between Canadian mining firm Ag Armeno Mines and Minerals Inc. and Indonesian mining entrepreneur Yusuf Merukh over the acquisition of shares in the Batu Hijau gold project in West...

Students hunger for cheap school fees

Students hunger for cheap school fees MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Two students of the state-run Hassanudin University staged a hunger strike and hung themselves in front of the university's main gate to demand cheaper school tuition.M.

Alleged con artist nabbed in Yogyakarta

Alleged con artist nabbed in Yogyakarta JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police detectives are awaiting the arrival of their counterparts from Yogyakarta who are expected to hand over a 55-year-old woman accused of having collected Rp 470 million by deceiving 12 people, including a Navy officer.

Indonesian team manager hopeful of Thomas Cup chances in KL

Indonesian team manager hopeful of Thomas Cup chances in KL JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's team manager Sumaryono expressed optimism about the men's shuttlers chance of retaining the Thomas Cup for the 12th time in the Thomas and Uber Cup championships in Kuala Lumpur next week.

Private parking operators threaten to sue government

Private parking operators threaten to sue government JAKARTA (JP): Operators of privately owned shopping centers warned on Wednesday that they would sue the city administration if it went ahead with its plan to close down the city's private parking lots for their failure to adjust their parking...

Cartoonist Eddy Hermanto exhibits his serious side

Cartoonist Eddy Hermanto exhibits his serious sideBy Wawan S. Husin BANDUNG (JP): Gallery Bandung, one of the few galleries in the West Java capital that "dares to be different", is exhibiting about 30 works of cartoonist Eddy Hermanto.

Team set up to probe Nomensen case

Team set up to probe Nomensen case MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): North Sumatra Police chief Brig. Gen. Sutanto vowed on Wednesday to investigate the bloody clash which claimed the lives of two Nomensen Christian University students on Monday.

Rozy Munir appoints 31 directors to office

Rozy Munir appoints 31 directors to office JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Investment and State Enterprises Development Rozy Munir swore in 31 directors to his office on Wednesday, just one week after he moved into the job.

Govt, IMF yet to reach final accord

Govt, IMF yet to reach final accord JAKARTA (JP): The government and the International Monetary Fund have completed the review of Indonesia's reform measures but have yet to agree on a new letter of intent (LoI), Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie said on...

Deposit insurance: Moral hazard here to stay

Deposit insurance: Moral hazard here to stay HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The absence deposit insurance spelled financial disaster for Indonesia in October 1997, reinvigorating a debate about how much governments should be willing to guarantee banks.

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, May 4, 2000

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, May 4, 2000Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition, Seni Lukis Kaca Nagasepaka, Buleleng, at Museum Puri Lukisan, Jl. Raya Ubud, Gianyar (Phone: 0361 975136), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., until May 23. * Painting Exhibition at Seniwati Showspace, Jl. Raya Ubud, until May 31.

Poverty alleviation program helps the poorest of the poor

Poverty alleviation program helps the poorest of the poorBy I Wayan Juniarta KARANGASEM, East Bali (JP): Imagine what it is like to wake up each day with no clean water, little food and no place to take an ailing child.

Police arrest two, seize drugs

Police arrest two, seize drugs JAKARTA (JP): City Police detectives apprehended a married couple on Tuesday for possession of 1,863 ecstasy pills, 590 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), some marijuana, a pistol and some bullets at their house on Jl.

Mall security guard fatally mobbed

Mall security guard fatally mobbed JAKARTA (JP): West Jakarta Police detectives are looking for four men who they believe mobbed to death a mall security guard after dragging him from his house in Rawa Buaya, Cengkareng.West Jakarta Police chief of detectives Capt.

KAI shifts collision blame to device theft

KAI shifts collision blame to device theft JAKARTA (JP): While human error was blamed as the main cause of the head-on collision between two trains last Monday, state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has shifted the culpability to rampant thefts of its supporting devices.

Try, Moerdani grilled over Tanjung Priok incident

Try, Moerdani grilled over Tanjung Priok incident JAKARTA (JP): Former vice president Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno and former armed forces commander Gen. (ret) L.B. Moerdani were questioned on Wednesday over their roles in a 1984 shooting in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, that left at least 40 people...

Growing tension at Besakih Temple

Growing tension at Besakih TempleBy Degung Santikarma KLUNGKUNG, East Bali (JP): As the afternoon shadows lengthen across an elite neighborhood in Denpasar, a normally quiet house becomes a feverish flurry of activity.

Mining firms told to be more flexible over regional demands

Mining firms told to be more flexible over regional demands JAKARTA (JP): Mining companies should be more flexible in facing vocal and often demanding provincial administrations, a senior mining official said on Wednesday.

Up in the air

Up in the air I thank Mr. Richard B. Ness of PT. Newmont Minahasa Raya for his courtesy in responding to my article so thoughtfully and openly (The Jakarta Post, April 28, 2000). Mr. Ness says correctly that my article was based on news reports of the settlement terms and not on the settlement...

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Program 8:30 Music 9:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Program 3:00 Documentary 3:30 Soccer: Indonesian League (live) 5:30 TVRI News (in English) 6:00 Talk Show 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Sports 9:00 World News...

Three ministers deny rumors they will resign

Three ministers deny rumors they will resign JAKARTA (JP): Following days of speculation over their future, three ministers insisted on Wednesday that they would stay in the Cabinet, while another minister opted to abandon the top post of a political party for the sake of his state job.

A matter of faith

A matter of faith If the Crescent Star Party (PBB) is a reflection of all political parties in Indonesia which use Islamic symbols, then the Islamic movement in this country still has a long way to go before it can become a force to be reckoned with.

Police shoot dead six robbery suspects

Police shoot dead six robbery suspects BANDUNG (JP): Six men, believed to be members of a crime syndicate, were shot dead by Bandung Police detectives in a shootout in nearby Cimahi on Tuesday.Another alleged thief, an Army lieutenant, was injured in the drama.

RI supports efforts to curb illegal small arms trade

RI supports efforts to curb illegal small arms trade JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will support international efforts to curb illegal small arms and light weapons trading, as the region as a whole has become fertile ground for such trading.

Asian currencies mixed in muted trading

Asian currencies mixed in muted trading SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies were mixed in muted trading Wednesday. With markets in Japan closed for the Golden Week holiday, activity was influenced mostly by local and technical factors.

Semarang port bans imported sugar

Semarang port bans imported sugar SEMARANG: The Tanjung Emas port is closed to imported sugar and raw sugar, Central Java Governor Mardiyanto said here on Wednesday.Mardiyanto told reporters that a letter banning the entrance of imported sugar and raw sugar had been issued, the copies of which had...

Thieves' terrible sense of humor

Thieves' terrible sense of humor CILACAP, Central Java (JP): At least one dead patient at Majenang clinic missed his last ride home on Tuesday when the ambulance that was to take him was stolen.The hospital workers went into frenzy when they discovered that the ambulance parked at a Puskesmas...

Transmigrants want to go home

Transmigrants want to go home JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: As many as 47 transmigrant families at the Bonggo resettlement unit VIII marched to the provincial legislative council to demand that the government send them home or resettle them in a more appropriate area.

President rebukes careless media

President rebukes careless media JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid reiterated on Wednesday his full commitment to a free press, but rebuked some media for abusing the country's new freedom."We need freedom, but freedom should go hand in hand with the ability to use it wisely," Abdurrahman...

'labalaba.com' launched

'labalaba.com' launched JAKARTA (JP): The country's Internet market welcomed a newcomer on Wednesday as PT Labalaba Interaktif Adiwara launched its new search engine portal, www.labalaba.com.Company president Farishad Latjuba said the portal would mainly provide different sites allowing users to...

Middle Eastern countries 'committed to helping Indonesia'

Middle Eastern countries 'committed to helping Indonesia' JAKARTA (JP): A number of Middle Eastern countries have given commitments to help Indonesia's economic recovery and are ready to invest in the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on Wednesday.

GDP growth to be over 4 percent in first quarter: BI

GDP growth to be over 4 percent in first quarter: BI JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia (BI) said on Wednesday the country's economic growth would exceed its initial target of 4 percent in the first quarter this year compared to the same period last year.

Govt urged to speed up corporate restructuring

Govt urged to speed up corporate restructuring JAKARTA (JP): Former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss urged Indonesia to speed up its key corporate restructuring and legal reform programs in order to recover the economy and catch up with other crisis-hit nations...

Migrant ditch diggers wait it out on street corners

Migrant ditch diggers wait it out on street cornersBy Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Many people may not believe that seasonal ditch diggers in the city could survive without a single penny in their pockets.

'No ASEAN-EU meeting without Myanmar'

'No ASEAN-EU meeting without Myanmar' YANGON (Agencies): A long-delayed ministerial meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union will not take place without Myanmar, the military state's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Most private parking firms ignore the official rate

Most private parking firms ignore the official rate JAKARTA (JP): Despite the recent ruling that parking fees must be adjusted in line with the official rates set by the city administration, some private parking operators still charged higher fees on Wednesday.

Indosat reports earnings of Rp 433b

Indosat reports earnings of Rp 433b JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed international telephone operator PT Indosat reported on Wednesday consolidated net income of Rp 433.8 billion (US$54.2 million) for the first quarter of this year.

Apjati to hold congress

Apjati to hold congress JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Labor Export Companies (Apjati) plans to hold an extraordinary congress later this month to revamp the association and review labor export procedures.

Army pledges to punish errant troops in Maluku

Army pledges to punish errant troops in Maluku AMBON, Maluku (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto has proposed a special team be sent to Maluku to deal with soldiers who overstep their authority in the riot-hit province.

Pertamina and Caltex negotiations suspended

Pertamina and Caltex negotiations suspended JAKARTA (JP): Current negotiations between state oil and gas company Pertamina and PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia over future operations in the Coastal Plain Pekanbaru (CPP) oil producing block, have been suspended following President Abdurrahman Wahid's...

Govt raises teachers' allowance

Govt raises teachers' allowance JAKARTA (JP): The government on Wednesday increased the functional allowance of teachers an additional 50 percent, while slashing in half the controversial structural allowance hike for high-ranking officials.

Bali's Nagasepaha village a living museum of glass paintings

Bali's Nagasepaha village a living museum of glass paintingsBy Rosemarie F. Oei BULELENG, North Bali (JP): The first glass paintings in Indonesia were created in Java where this form of art was probably introduced by the Dutch in the 19th century.

A tough task lies ahead

A tough task lies ahead Director-General of Land Transportation Santo Budiono and State Railroad Company Director Edie Haryoto have announced their resignation in the wake of the train crash that left four people dead, reflecting their awareness of their public responsibilities.

Misunderstanding Gus Dur

Misunderstanding Gus Dur News reports published in some newspapers in recent days have drawn the conclusion that President Abdurrahman Wahid said he would retire in September this year, based on an interview with the President published in the Australian Financial Review on April 28, 2000.