Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 13 January 2001

59 articles found

Minister Agum reveals huge layoff plan in PPD

Minister Agum reveals huge layoff plan in PPD JAKARTA (JP): The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Agum Gumelar revealed on Friday a plan to reduce the number of employees in state-run City Bus Company (PPD) as the company has, for the past 15 years, been suffering losses. "Initially, there was a plan to liquidate PPD, but our research indicated that the bus company could be saved.

Don't panic over U.S. slowdown, Koehler tells Asia

Don't panic over U.S. slowdown, Koehler tells Asia TOKYO (Reuters): The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised Asia not to panic about the slowdown in the U.S. economy, saying it would not lead to a repeat of the region's gut-wrenching 1997 financial crisis. But IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler said Asia would feel the pinch of slower U.S. growth and he urged governments to respond by stepping up the pace of much-needed economic reforms.

Forensic police to infiltrate Tommy's 'bunker'

Forensic police to infiltrate Tommy's 'bunker' JAKARTA (JP): With the slim chance that they might find former president Soeharto's fugitive son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman announced on Friday that the police would break into an alleged "bunker" under his house on Sunday. He said that geo-radar signals identified an underground bunker below the Central Jakarta residence of Tommy. "One huge air pocket was found... under Tommy's house on Jl.

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001 Exhibitions * Photo: A Letter from the Ocean by Mosista Pambudi at Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara, Jl. Antara No. 59 Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3458771), until Jan. 24. * Painting Flying Horizon by Teguh Ostenrik, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5241069), Jan. 13. * Photo: Solidaritas, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan no. 17, Central Jakarta (Phone: 5483008 ext. 7910/7911), Jan.

Customs and excise office reshuffle draws protest

Customs and excise office reshuffle draws protest JAKARTA (JP): The recent removal of Jakarta Customs and Excise Office chief Roy Lino has raised many eyebrows, with city councilor Santayana Kiemas accusing the central government of defying the spirit of regional autonomy. Santayana of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) claimed on Friday that neither he nor other councilors had been consulted or informed about the replacement.

Telkom urged to take over KSO's assets

Telkom urged to take over KSO's assets JAKARTA (JP): Most of the joint cooperation scheme (KSO) partners of state-owned PT Telkom have opted for a buy out of their assets rather than continuing with the current contract as originally suggested by the publicly-listed telecommunication company.

Deputy governor found dazed and confused

Deputy governor found dazed and confused BATAM, Riau: Riau Deputy Governor RA Azis was found in a dazed and groggy state on the steps of a hotel here early Friday morning, prompting a police investigation into the incident. Two bell boys of Hotel Gita Wisata, Risman and Aan, told The Jakarta Post that they found Azis holding on to the railing of the hotel in a weak and dazed state at about 5 a.m. Friday. The claimed that they did not know who he was and subsequently summoned police.

Change coming to St. Joseph's Church

Change coming to St. Joseph's Church St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Jl. Matraman Raya in East Jakarta is not included on the capital's list of protected buildings, but a plan to renovate the building has sparked controversy among the congregation, even reaching the Jakarta governor. This is the 71st article in our series on Old Batavia, with future profiles to appear every two weeks.. By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): The schedule is clear: the congregation of St.

Hard to find good help

Hard to find good help From Kompas On Dec. 27, 2000, a teenage girl called Yanti came to my younger brother's house on Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, offering to work as a housemaid. About 150 centimeters tall, she is of medium build with dark skin, straight hair cut in a bob and with bangs and slightly slit eyes. As my brother was then in dire need of a housemaid, the girl got the job right away.

E. Java police reopen taste enhancer factory

E. Java police reopen taste enhancer factory SURABAYA (JP): After being inoperative for one week, East Java Police discreetly lifted a closure order at the factory belonging to controversial taste enhancer producers PT Ajinomoto in Mojokerto, East Java, on Thursday afternoon. The restriction was lifted at around 6 p.m. without prior notification being given to factory management, and performed after all employees had left the premises.

Japan condemns GI sex crimes

Japan condemns GI sex crimes TOKYO (Reuters): Japan demanded on Friday that the U.S. military take strict punitive measures to prevent sex crimes by its servicemen, only a week after all curfew restrictions on troops were lifted on the southern island of Okinawa. The demand was prompted by the arrest on Tuesday of Corp. Raven Gogol, 21, on suspicion of molesting a 16-year-old local girl on Okinawa.

Bogor to receive 3000 new staff

Bogor to receive 3000 new staff BOGOR (JP): In line with the implementation of regional autonomy this year, the Bogor mayoralty administration will acquire some 3,000 civil servants from the West Java provincial administration, an official said on Friday. With the arrival of the new faces, the mayoralty will employ a total of 8,000 staff, the office's spokeswoman Dewi Kurnia said.

Euro advocates will find support at ASEM talks

Euro advocates will find support at ASEM talks LONDON (Reuters): Euro zone policymakers could be preaching to the converted if they use a weekend meeting with their Asian counterparts to promote Europe's single currency. A two-day Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) kicks off in Kobe, Japan on Saturday and is expected to give euro zone countries a chance to plug their currency at a time when it is reversing nearly two years of declines.

KL palm oil lower on profit-taking

KL palm oil lower on profit-taking KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil futures closed lower on Friday as players locked in profits ahead of the weekend, traders said. Activity was light with prices trapped in a tight range ahead of the release of official December crop data and exports figures for the first 15 days of January on Monday. Traders said losses in Chicago soyoil futures overnight weighed on prices.

'Spaghetti Westerns' screened at Bentara Budaya

'Spaghetti Westerns' screened at Bentara Budaya JAKARTA (JP): Before he rode off to become a big time Hollywood star, Clint Eastwood put on his poncho and got down and dirty with director Sergio Leone in several Westerns which were filmed in, of all places, Italy. Low budget they may have been, but the so-called "spaghetti Westerns" were a success with fans. A trilogy of Eastwood westerns will be shown at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl.

No more RI shuttlers in Samsung Korea Open

No more RI shuttlers in Samsung Korea Open JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia players crashed out of the quarterfinals in the US$250,000 Samsung Korea Open on Friday. Six seeded men's singles Marlev Mainaky fell short of power and speed to All England winner Xia Xuanze of China losing 9-15, 6-15. Indonesia's men's doubles Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto bowed out to second seeds and Olympic silver medalists Lee Dong- soo and Yoo Yong-sung 10-15, 7-15.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 12, 2001: ------------------------------------------------------------ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 1,950 50 154,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 95 0 2,500 Alakasa Industrindo 425 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 975 0 282,500 Alter Abadi 105 -20 500 Alumindo Light Metal 650 -75 500 Andhi Chandra 1,025 -25 2,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 260 0 0 Aneka Tambang...

ASEAN still cornerstone of foreign policy: Alwi

ASEAN still cornerstone of foreign policy: Alwi JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab reaffirmed on Friday Indonesia's commitment to the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) as one of the "cornerstones" of the country's foreign policy. In a policy briefing to review foreign affairs in 2000 and chart the coming year, Alwi asserted that as one of the founders of ASEAN, Indonesia would never abandon or negate the importance of ASEAN to the country.

Prices stable for construction material

Prices stable for construction material JAKARTA (JP): Following the long holidays, the construction materials business has resumed with generally stable prices, Antara reported on Friday. Freddy, a shop keeper in Cawang, East Jakarta, said only a few materials had higher prices. He said some customers had returned, but the number had yet to meet his expectations. Construction materials selling at normal prices included Vinilex paint.

Banser to come to Jakarta?

Banser to come to Jakarta? From Rakyat Merdeka I have heard that the Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) task force, Banser, plans to come to Jakarta. It was reported that in Jakarta the task force would be directly involved in physical street fights against any opponents to President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. Frankly speaking, I am extremely concerned about this matter, and I am afraid the situation in the capital will be terrible if the plan is carried out.

AXA awaits RI reforms before investing

AXA awaits RI reforms before investing HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Until Indonesia shows a commitment to improve bankruptcy laws and creditor protection, AXA Investment Managers, the investment arm of French insurance giant AXA S.A. (AXA), will refrain from putting more money into the country's assets, said a senior official at the company. "As long as there isn't the political will to solve the problems of existing debt ...

Shangri-La has lost Rp 18b from strike

Shangri-La has lost Rp 18b from strike JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer of the Shangri-La Hotel in Central Jakarta said on Friday that the five-star hotel had been suffering Rp 18 billion (US$1.8 million) in revenue losses since it halted its operations on Dec. 22, 2000. The hotel had been unable to operate following a continuing strike by some 500 employees from Dec. 22 until Dec. 26. As of Friday, the hotel remains closed to guests.

Navy Cassa plane victims removed from crash site

Navy Cassa plane victims removed from crash site TIMIKA, Irian Jaya (JP): All nine fatalities of Monday's Cassa U-614 plane crash were removed on Friday from the accident site to the town of Timika, and seven of them were flown by Hercules military transport planes to Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta for their respective funerals.

Armed robbers get away with hundreds of millions

Armed robbers get away with hundreds of millions BOGOR (JP): Bogor Police are on the hunt for four men in connection with the armed robbery of hundreds of millions of rupiah from the Gede Agung Bagus (GAB) Money Changer on Jl. Siliwangi on Friday evening. The money changer's cashier and one of its security guards sustained gunshot wounds during the incident. The robbers fled with a large bag containing rupiah banknotes and foreign currency, after shooting the cashier's right hand.

BNI to meet Perhutani to decide volleyball league

BNI to meet Perhutani to decide volleyball league JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Bank BNI women's volleyball team will face Bandung-based Perhutani in the 2000 national volleyball league (Livoli) to see if it can retain its title. Bank BNI found no trouble in ousting Popsivo 3-0 (25-23, 25- 18, 25-15) in Friday's derby match. Bank BNI remains at top of the standings while Popsivo is fourth.

Three dead as boat sinks

Three dead as boat sinks TAKALAR, South Sulawesi: At least three people died and six remain missing after a traditional Jolloro boat carrying 18 people sunk after it was hit by strong waves just off North Takalar, between Topejawa and Tanakeke, about 60 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Makassar on Thursday. Nine people survived the ordeal. "The boat was overcrowded. This was aggravated by the high waves and bad weather," fisherman Dg Tojeng, a witness, said on Friday.

New tax regulations fair, says tax expert

New tax regulations fair, says tax expert JAKARTA (JP): The recently issued tax regulations were fair enough and were unlikely to result in the government overtaxing its citizens, according to a tax expert on Friday. Tax expert Tjahjo Joewono said that based on his evaluation so far most of the new tax regulations were acceptable. "It's only natural that the government issued so many regulations after it had just amended the tax laws last year," Tjahjo told The Jakarta Post in an interview.

Honda launches new sedan amid tight competition

Honda launches new sedan amid tight competition JAKARTA (JP): PT Honda Prospect Motor, the sole agent of Japan's Honda Motor Co. Ltd,. launched here on Friday a new model of its Honda Civic sedan amid the growing competition in the domestic automotive market. The company's vice president Yoshiaki Nakamura said he was optimistic that the public would respond enthusiastically to 1,700 cc New Civic despite the tight competition.

PRSI tries to self-finance SEA Games training program

PRSI tries to self-finance SEA Games training program JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) will try to self-finance the centralized training program prior to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Mahathir tells civil servants to back govt

Mahathir tells civil servants to back govt KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad urged civil servants on Friday to shed pro-opposition sympathies and instead work with his government, claiming that Malaysia's prosperity could otherwise collapse within a few years. "There are those who feel this government is not Islamic and reeks of corruption and cronyism," Mahathir said in a speech to senior government officials in charge of the civil service.

Court asked to cancel charges on Wimanjaya

Court asked to cancel charges on Wimanjaya JAKARTA (JP): The prosecutor asked the South Jakarta District Court on Friday revoke the indictment against controversial author Wimanjaya K. Liotohe. Prosecutor Yudi Sutoto told the hearing, presided over by judge Muchtar Ritonga, that since the Attorney General's Office revoked its ban on circulation of his book, Prima Dosa, or Prime Sins, in 1998, the contents of the book have since then been considered lawful.

Business as usual for the capital

Business as usual for the capital JAKARTA (JP): Business will go on as usual in the capital on Monday despite rumors of a huge rally opposing President Abdurrahman Wahid, except for schools which, on Friday, were granted permission to close.

Estrada pushed officials to help cronies, ex-finance chief says

Estrada pushed officials to help cronies, ex-finance chief says MANILA (AP): A former Cabinet member told President Joseph Estrada's impeachment trial on Friday that Estrada pressured officials to help his business cronies and to grant a questionable loan to the gaming company at the heart of a stock scandal.

RI needs math curriculum reform

RI needs math curriculum reform By Iwan Pranoto BANDUNG (JP): The concern with which many intellectuals greeted Indonesia's poor showing in the 1999 international mathematics and science study was actually a good sign: it showed that they care about our math and science education. The US-sponsored study, which was first launched in 1995 and was called the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), was followed by the second in 1999 which was called TIMSS Repeat.

German man held for sexual molestation

German man held for sexual molestation JAKARTA (JP): Police are questioning a German national over alleged sexual molestation of at least three young boys following his arrest late Thursday night. Adj. Comr. Sudiarto Toyib of the city police public service center said that angry residents of Pamulang district in Tangerang detained the German citizen, who is in his 40s, on Thursday night after repeated complaints of sexual molestation from at least three young boys. "The boys are really young.

Expanding human freedoms for economic development

Expanding human freedoms for economic development By Thee Kian Wie This is the second of two articles based on Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen's views on development in his latest book Development as Freedom. Prof. Sen, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University, United Kingdom, is the first Asian recipient of the Nobel price in economic science in 1998.

PDI-P supports system not individuals

PDI-P supports system not individuals JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will not imitate others expressing support for specific state leaders, but continue to uphold the country's presidential appointment mechanism, a senior party official said on Friday. "PDI Perjuangan will not cast support for individuals, but for the institution," the party's secretary-general Soetjipto told media on the sidelines of the Advisory Board (MPP) meeting here.

Loose monetary policy dragging rupiah down

Loose monetary policy dragging rupiah down SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Overly loose monetary policy in Indonesia is pushing up inflation and could very well drag the rupiah down through key psychological support at Rp 10,000 to the dollar. Also weighing on the currency, say analysts, is the Southeast Asian nation's weak balance of payments position and Jakarta's unorthodox - and some say flawed - efforts to attract foreign capital.

Jakarta Outer Ring Road project may resume next month

Jakarta Outer Ring Road project may resume next month JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) project may resume next month, Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Erna Witoelar said on Friday. "If everything goes well between state-owned toll road company PT Jasa Marga and Malaysia's DRB-Hi Com, the preparations for the project should be completed this month and the construction could resume in February," Erna told a media briefing at her office here.

Govt tries to ease fears of 'unrest'

Govt tries to ease fears of 'unrest' JAKARTA (JP): The government on Friday tried to calm fears of possible unrest on Monday, with President Abdurrahman Wahid himself saying that there was nothing to worry about. Responding to a question during a dialog with the public after the Friday prayers, Abdurrahman said he had asked the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) banser civilian guards, especially those in East Java not to come to Jakarta to rally for him.

Activists warn govt of sluggish bombings probe

Activists warn govt of sluggish bombings probe JAKARTA (JP): Activists questioned on Friday the government's sluggish pace in probing the Christmas Eve bombings, saying that better cooperation was needed between the state and the public to uncover these terrorist attacks. Asmara Nababan who heads the Indonesian Forum for Peace (FID)'s fact-finding team on the bombings, said they were still waiting for the government's reaction to the forum's work.

Mt. Ine Like erupts

Mt. Ine Like erupts MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Thousands of residents of Naru, Menge and Bou villages in Flores island have been forced the flee their homes and seek refuge at Bajawa, Ngada regency after the nearby Mt. Ine Like began spewing hot ash on Thursday night. The 1,559-meter high volcano, located some 13 kilometers south of Bajawa, began to belching the hot ash around 7 p.m. "Residents are terrified and every kiosks and house was abandoned.

Water supply firm gets ISO 9002

Water supply firm gets ISO 9002 TANGERANG (JP): The regency-owned water supply company (PDAM) here has received an international ISO 9002 certificate, the company's president, Dadan Hendra Sambas, said on Friday. "The certificate will be presented on Jan. 23 by the British certification body," Dadan told reporters. He said the ISO 9002 certificate proved the company managed to satisfy its 80,000 customers consistently.

BI reiterates concerns over amendment law

BI reiterates concerns over amendment law JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia deputy governor Achjar Iljas reiterated on Friday concerns that the proposed amendments to the central bank law might threaten the independent status of Bank Indonesia. Achjar said that amendment of the central bank law must be studied carefully.

Satelindo expects 60% more GSM subscribers

Satelindo expects 60% more GSM subscribers JAKARTA (JP): PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo) expects a 60 percent increase in its global system for mobile communications (GSM) subscribers this year, lifting the total number of customers to 1.7 million from the 1.06 million recorded at the end of last year, an executive said.

Riady to pay $8.6m fine

Riady to pay $8.6m fine WASHINGTON (AP): Indonesian billionaire James Riady has agreed to pay a record US$8.6 million criminal fine and plead guilty to using corporate funds from his foreign Lippo Group to reimburse contributors to Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for the presidency, the Justice Department announced Thursday night. Riady, a key figure in the campaign finance scandal, pledged $1 million in 1992 to support the then-Arkansas governor's campaign, the government said.

GAM warns military against sweeping operations

GAM warns military against sweeping operations BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Leaders of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) forces vowed on Friday to continue attacks if security forces persisted in conducting sweeping operations against them. The threat was issued despite a month-long moratorium on violence agreed by Indonesian and GAM negotiators earlier this week.

Pertamina's founder Sutowo dies at 86

Pertamina's founder Sutowo dies at 86 JAKARTA (JP): Ibnu Sutowo, the founding president of state oil and gas company Pertamina, passed away here on Friday morning at the age of 86. He died due to old age at 5.35 a.m. in the Pertamina Central Hospital in Jakarta, his businessman son Pontjo Sutowo told reporters. Pontjo said his father was admitted to Pertamina Hospital around 1 a.m. on Friday due to "congestion". He was under intensive care until he died.

Crimes at airport

Crimes at airport I agree with R. Hutagalung (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 11, 2001, Heaven for thieves, hell for passengers). We have to hope that God will send a suitable person to stop all bad activities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng. I have heard a lot of bad news about Cengkareng airport which should not happen, especially since the airport is considered to be a reflection of our country. We as helpless citizens/residents are very upset.

Hyundai, Daimler to tie up

Hyundai, Daimler to tie up SEOUL (AFP): Hyundai Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler are to set up a joint commercial vehicles plant in South Korea, Hyundai chairman Chung Mong-Koo said in a newspaper interview released Friday. Chung told the Korea Economic Daily that DaimlerChrysler has completed a due diligence investigation into Hyundai's existing commercial vehicle plant in the southwestern city of Chonju and that a formal agreement on the joint venture would be signed in April.

Number of corruption prosecutions jumps in W. Java

Number of corruption prosecutions jumps in W. Java BANDUNG: Provincial prosecutors over the last nine months have handled no less than 87 corruption cases in West Java. The deputy chief of special crimes at the provincial prosecutor's office, M. Amari revealed that most of the alleged corruption cases involved the embezzlement of funds from agricultural credit programs. He said that 48 cases had been processed and brought to court.

Another tragedy in the making?

Another tragedy in the making? The possibility that a "big war" will erupt on Jan. 15, which is only three days away, between supporters and critics of President Abdurrahman Wahid is most alarming because the threat occurs at a time when our intelligence agencies seem to have lost their adroitness. Moreover, our society at present resembles a pack of blood-thirsty wolves more than a community of human beings.

Rupiah Rates Jan. 12

Rupiah Rates Jan. 12 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.

JSX bombing suspects moved to Cipinang jail

JSX bombing suspects moved to Cipinang jail JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office moved on Friday six suspects accused of the bomb attack on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building last September, from the police detention center to Cipinang jail, pending their trial. The office's assistant for general crimes, Suhardjono, said state and military prosecutors would study the investigation dossiers before deciding which cases are assigned to a civilian court or military tribunal.

Detention of FKM chief protested

Detention of FKM chief protested AMBON, Maluku (JP): One hundred people marched to the Maluku Police Headquarters in Batumeja on Friday to protest Thursday's arrest of Alex Manuputty, chief executive of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM). Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani received the demonstrators and explained why the police had detained Alex. According to Firman, FKM had positioned itself as a political organization separate from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

Asian currencies mostly down on yen's sharp drop

Asian currencies mostly down on yen's sharp drop SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The floundering Japanese yen late Friday dealt a further blow to most Asian currencies, already staggering under the weight of their countries' economic and political woes, market watchers said. The only currency which bucked the downtrend was the Thai baht, which rebounded on liquidation of long dollar positions late in the day, after having been dragged down by the yen's weakness in early trading.

RI, Spain to boost trade ties

RI, Spain to boost trade ties JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Spain have agreed to send more trade missions in the future in a bid to further promote trade relations between the two countries. The exchange of trade missions was part of cooperation agreements made during the three-day trip of a Spanish trade mission. "This cooperation is essential to further expand trade ties," said Sony B.

Corporate foreign debt 'manageable', says minister

Corporate foreign debt 'manageable', says minister JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli said on Friday that the country's corporate overseas debt maturing in 2001 would not be a serious threat to the rupiah as the debt would still be "manageable." Rizal pointed out that the success of the Jakarta Initiative Task Force (JITF) last year in helping restructure between US$8 billion and $10 billion in corporate foreign debt has eased the debt burden.

Risks hanging over economy

Risks hanging over economy Bank Indonesia has predicted only moderate economic growth of 4.5-5.5 percent this year, as against 5 percent last year, but has also forecast an appreciation of the embattled rupiah to a range of Rp 7,750-8,250 against the dollar, compared to Rp 9,500 today, with an inflation rate of 6-8.5 percent.