Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 December 2001

79 articles found

Medan fire victims in urgent need of aid

Medan fire victims in urgent need of aidApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan Some 400 families whose houses and assets were destroyed in a fire in Central Petisah subdistrict in the North Sumatra capital, Medan, are in urgent need of more humanitarian aid to survive the critical situation.

30th Anniversary of UAE National Day

30th Anniversary of UAE National Day----------------------------------------------------------------On Dec. 2 this year, the federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked the 30th anniversary of its national day.

EVM to avoid KKN

EVM to avoid KKN As President of the Indonesia Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), I am following-up on the Opinion article in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 29 entitled Take project management away from govt agencies by Robert J. Cochrane.While we enthusiastically agree with Mr.

RP, S. Korea agree to new air pact

RP, S. Korea agree to new air pactAssociated Press, Manila The Philippines and South Korea, hoping to perk up tourism in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., have negotiated a new air agreement allowing each side to increase weekly flights between Manila and Seoul from 13 to 16,...

Government fails to monitor bailout funds: Kim Dae Jung

Government fails to monitor bailout funds: Kim Dae JungAssociated Press, Seoul President Kim Dae-jung admitted Saturday that his government has failed to properly supervise the use of US$116.8 billion it has supplied to bail out struggling banks in the wake of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

Govt wants to focus on 'zakat' first: Minister

Govt wants to focus on 'zakat' first: MinisterFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Husein Al Munawar said on Sunday that the government still had no concrete plan to extend its tax-deductible policy on Islamic alms, or zakat, to similar kinds of...

Senen vendors offer cheap clothes

Senen vendors offer cheap clothesMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Forget shopping malls and traditional markets if you want to get a new shopping experience. There are alternative places for you to go.Pay a visit to Senen market in Central Jakarta.

Batam tripartite meeting proposes 5% wage rise

Batam tripartite meeting proposes 5% wage rise Fadli The Jakarta Post BatamA tripartite meeting attended by businessmen, labor and government representatives has agreed to propose a five percent, or Rp 25,000, increase in the minimum wage for the industrial island of Batam in Riau province,...

West Sumatra rejects new Semen Gresik plan

West Sumatra rejects new Semen Gresik planThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The West Sumatra people rejected the government's new plan for the sale of the state-owned cement producer PT Semen Gresik to Mexico's Cemex SA de CV, insisting that the local PT Semen Padang must first be separated from its...

[b]Profiting from violence

Profiting from violence in eastern Indonesia Santi W.E. Soekanto Contributor The Jakarta Post Jakarta 2. Tommy -- Indonesia's opportunity 1 x 32 48pt Bodoni Tommy: Hopes and opportunitiesThe Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore 3.

Gunmen trigger chaos in Maluku

Gunmen trigger chaos in MalukuAfter weeks of tense calm, strife-torn Maluku was rocked by a series of gunfights and shootings initiated by armed rioters, an official said Sunday.

Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCW) denied talk that it plans to tap

Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCW) denied talk that it plans to tap European debt markets for capital, following several media reports about a planned bond issue. In a statement issued late Friday, the Hong Kong telecommunications giant said, "PCCW has no immediate plans to access the Euro...

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaMondayMaghrib 5:59 p.m.Tuesday Imsak 3:57 a.m.Subuh 4:07 a.m.

Tommy's arrest: Its possible implications

Tommy's arrest: Its possible implicationsJ. Soedjati Djiwandono, Political Analyst, Jakarta"Certain political groupings seem to have tried to take advantage of the whole episode, from the beginning of the process of his (Tommy's) trial, his brief imprisonment, his two meetings with the then...

1. market (1 x 30)

1. market (1 x 30) Dollar demand weakens, rupiah to slide 2. Wall ( 2 x 24 ) Wall Street stocks mixed as bulls face off vs bears 3. oil ( 2 x 20 ) EU looking for higher, stable oil prices

ADB $100m loan for education

ADB $100m loan for education JAKARTA (Agencies): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Saturday that it had approved a US$100 million loan to Indonesia for an education project intended to help some 1.26 million poor children, a report said.

Taxi problem

Taxi problem In reference to Lanny Hidayat's letter of Nov. 29 entitled Improper manner, I can explain her problems with the Silvera taxi drivers outside Apartment Taman Rasuna on Nov. 24. I had exactly the same experience, about an hour before her.

Malaysia's unemployment aggravated by September attacks on U.S.

Malaysia's unemployment aggravated by September attacks on U.S.Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur The worsening world economy and the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S. have caused tens of thousands of workers to lose their jobs in Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said...

Gunmen trigger chaos in Maluku

Gunmen trigger chaos in Maluku After weeks of tense calm, strife-torn Maluku was rocked by a series of gunfights and shootings initiated by armed rioters, an official said Sunday.Civil emergency spokesman Maj. Marthen Luther Djari confirmed that at least two shooting incidents broke out on Sunday.

KL inmate's death still unsolved

KL inmate's death still unsolved CIREBON, West Java: Local authorities have yet to determine the cause of death of Malaysian inmate Koh Kim Cha alias Amzit who was found dead in his cell in Cirebon prison last Thursday due to the absence of an official permit for an autopsy.Cirebon Police chief Adj.

PM warns party against complacency

PM warns party against complacency SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong warned MPs from his People's Action Party (PAP) against complacency and influence peddling in a letter published in the Sunday Times.

Glass painter hopes gloomy will pass quickly

Glass painter hopes gloomy will pass quicklyTarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Muntilan, Central Java The terrorist attacks in New York last September have affected tourism in the small town of Muntilan, where the Borobudur temple lies.

Fuel prices lowered by 7.6% on average

Fuel prices lowered by 7.6% on averageThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta State oil and gas company Pertamina said it would lower fuel prices for industry in December by an average of 7.8 percent, a statement said.Premium gasoline will be sold at Rp 1,450 (13.8 U.S.

Megawati call for religious tolerance

Megawati call for religious toleranceFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called for tolerance, peace and justice among people of different religions and ethnic origins, saying that living in peace is a right for all human beings.

1.DISABLE, 3 lines, 15 counts

1.DISABLE, 3 lines, 15 countsElection bill discriminates against disabled: critics 2. ASEAN: 4 lines, 11 countsRI, ASEAN discuss terrorism with U.S. 3. SETO, 2 lines, 22 countsWorking women torn between maternal instinct, career

Snapshot of the Humpuss empire in 1997

Snapshot of the Humpuss empire in 1997TranportationPT Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi PT Sempati Air PT Gatari Air Service PT Humpuss Sea TransportConstrutionPT Mahasara Buana PT Mabua Detroit Steel PT Puri Bangun MustikaFinanceBank Utama Satya Siaga Insurance Brokers Humpuss Inc.

Additional burden on the nation

Additional burden on the nationFrom PelitaLately, the incidence of muggings and brawling among students has been on the increase. This often ends with the loss of life among the students themselves or innocent people.

Stroke should be treated quickly

Stroke should be treated quickly People who suffer from a stroke should be treated by a doctor within three hours of experiencing it to enable them to have a better chance of recovering, an official said here over the weekend.

100 jihad fighters arrested in Ngawi

100 jihad fighters arrested in NgawiThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Police in East Java arrested on Sunday more than 100 members of a religious militant group in the town of Ngawi and confiscated dozens of weapons, including bombs, handguns and bullets.

Golkar threatens to withdraw support for govt

Golkar threatens to withdraw support for govtThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Golkar Party has threatened to withdraw its support for President Megawati Soekarnoputri if her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) backed moves to create a House of Representatives' special committee to...

Indonesian tennis starlet Angie vies to lower her world ranking to sub-100

Indonesian tennis starlet Angie vies to lower her world ranking to sub-100Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After her phenomenal run this year, which included her historic Wimbledon triumph, Indonesian teenage star Angelique Widjaja looks fancied in the 2002 season with a view to breaking into...

Thousands of people gathered in cities across Turkey on Saturday

Thousands of people gathered in cities across Turkey on Saturday to protest against the country's International Monetary Fund pact and called on the government to quit over its handling of a punishing economic crisis.

Conflicts worsen despite troop deployments

Conflicts worsen despite troop deploymentsTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The deployment of 50,000 troops in restive areas has largely failed to restore order because elements in both the government and the military have vested interests in keeping the conflicts alive, observers said...

Stroke patients should be treated within three hours

Stroke patients should be treated within three hoursAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta People who suffer from a stroke should be treated by a doctor within three hours of experiencing it to enable them to have a better chance of recovering, an official said here over the weekend.

Suspected bombs in hotel room

Suspected bombs in hotel room Two packages, suspected to be homemade bombs, were found in a room at the Atlantic hotel in Central Jakarta on Sunday by a hotel staff member who was working in the room after the registered guests had checked out.

Airline passengers for domestic travel (January - September)

Airline passengers for domestic travel (January - September)Airport 2000 2001 Change (thousand people) (%) Polonia, Medan 287.3 342.2 19.11 Soekarno-Hatta 1,685.4 2,271.4 34.77 Juanda, Surabaya 731.8 906.7 23.90 Ngurah Rai, Bali 480.0 626.4 30.50 Hasanuddin, Makassar 233.3 309.2 32.53 Others 2,761.

Reduced catchment area blamed for Bandung flood

Reduced catchment area blamed for Bandung floodYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung An environmental expert blamed the very large number of buildings in North Bandung and the poor drainage system in the city for the current flood in South Bandung.

Tommy's contempt of law sidelined

Tommy's contempt of law sidelinedTertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Evading conviction is a crime that Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra committed when he escaped imprisonment a year ago, but police seem disinterested in pursuing this blatant contempt of the law by focusing instead on...

'Beware of brothel burning'

'Beware of brothel burning' SURABAYA, East Java: Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. Ito Sumardi has asked the local military to back up police to step up security around brothels in the city due to the distribution of circulars threatening to burn down the red-light district.

S. Korea topples China as investors' favorite: Poll

S. Korea topples China as investors' favorite: Poll Reuters Hong KongSouth Korea will topple China as fund managers' favorite Asian market by early next year, with Australia and India creeping onto investors' radar screens. South Korea was the top pick by 33.

"Certain political groupings seem to have tried to take advantage

"Certain political groupings seem to have tried to take advantage of the whole episode, from the beginning of the process of his (Tommy's) trial, his brief imprisonment, his two meetings with the then president Abdurrahman Wahid, his escape, his disappearance for a little more than a year, and his...

Rise and fall of Tommy's business empire

Rise and fall of Tommy's business empireBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In 1984, at the tender age of 22, the youngest son of then president Soeharto, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, set up his first company, unleashing an invasion of this country's business world led by PT Humpuss.

Law held in contempt

Law held in contempt The way our legal system has bungled the Tommy Soeharto affair has sent a chilling message that, not only does crime in this country pay, but that if you ever find yourself on the wrong side of the law, it pays to evade the law altogether.

Passengers complain about ticket scalpers at PT Pelni

Passengers complain about ticket scalpers at PT PelniAnnastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta People wanting to return to their hometowns by ship have already found it very difficult to buy tickets at the state-owned shipping operator PT Pelni and at travel bureaus.

Corrupt customs officers must be punished: Legislators

Corrupt customs officers must be punished: LegislatorsDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Following a damning report claiming widespread under-invoicing of import prices, top legislators urged the government to impose sanctions on any official of the customs and excise service found to be...

Beach spikers to tour Australia ahead of 2002 Asian Games

Beach spikers to tour Australia ahead of 2002 Asian GamesMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesian beach volleyball players plan to tour Australia for around eight weeks as part of their preparations for the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

Profiting from violence in eastern Indonesia

Profiting from violence in eastern IndonesiaSanti W.E. Soekanto, Contributor, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The deaths of at least five Muslims and three Christians in the Central Sulawesi district of Poso on Tuesday were absolutely needless and abhorrent, but probably came as no surprise to some...

Three more dead as Aceh raids intensify

Three more dead as Aceh raids intensifyIbnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh At least three people were killed as military and police intensified operations in Aceh ahead of a commemoration, which has caused anxiety among villagers, the military said on Sunday.

Working women torn between maternal instinct and career

Working women torn between maternal instinct and careerLeo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Though working mothers are commonplace, many of these women continue to harbor a sense of guilt as their heart is torn between their career and their maternal instincts.

Getting a DVD -- is it worth it?

Getting a DVD -- is it worth it?Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta It seems that the Digital Video Disc, DVD, is becoming rather popular in Jakarta. Previously, finding a player here was next to impossible -- if not extremely expensive.

Megawati begins to feel the heat in government

Megawati begins to feel the heat in governmentBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri is facing difficulties in leading the government due to the failure of her party's legislators to control the House of Representatives, political analysts say.

Minister upbeat about visit to Australia

Minister upbeat about visit to AustraliaThe Jakarta Post, Sydney Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda hopes that his visit to Australia will help thaw any prevailing rigidity in ties between the two countries and help solidify ties which in the past have been tempered by emotional...

U.S. backs TNI's accountability attempts

U.S. backs TNI's accountability attemptsAdmiral Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, Jakarta Indonesia today faces many challenges. The United States shares Indonesia's aspirations for security, peaceful development, and prosperity. We want to help.

ASEAN discusses terrorism with U.S.

ASEAN discusses terrorism with U.S. Indonesia and other ASEAN member countries have held talks with the United States on the terrorism issue in an effort to reach a consensus on how to build cooperation in combating the problem, an Indonesian official said in New York on Friday (Saturday in...

A land of time-honored traditions and rapid lifestyle changes

A land of time-honored traditions and rapid lifestyle changes What do many Indonesians have in mind when they think of the United Arab Emirates? Its oil? Sand? Dates? Football? Emirates airline? The teasing prices at its airport duty-free shops? Or simply as one of the richest countries in the...

Domestic air passenger numbers rise 24.19 percent

Domestic air passenger numbers rise 24.19 percentTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The number of airline passengers on domestic flights surged 24.19 percent to 7.67 million passengers between January and September this year compared to the same period last year, signaling a revival of...

U.S. backs TNI's accountability attempts

U.S. backs TNI's accountability attempts Admiral Dennis C. Blair USCINCPAC Jakarta 2. Martin -- Hopes of new multilaterism exaggerated 1 X 55 36pt BodoniIs U.S. really heading toward a multilateral policy?Martin Woollacott Guardian News Service London

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:30 a.m. Ramadhan Program 4:30 Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:05 Environment 8:45 City News 10:00 Children's Song 10:30 30 Minutes with Anita Rahman 11:00 News 11:30 Music 12:00 p.m. News 1:00 Talk Show 2:00 News 2:30 Debating 3:30 Talk Show 4:00 Quiz 4:30 Ramadhan Program 6:30 Music...

Broadcasting the benefits of plasma TV screens

Broadcasting the benefits of plasma TV screensL. Gatot, Contributor, Jakarta If you wish to buy a slim but sophisticated TV for your future TV, consider a plasma TV.This kind of TV provides excellent picture quality with low picture distortion.

An adventure of the most rapid lifestyle changes

An adventure of the most rapid lifestyle changes What do many Indonesians have in mind about this country? Its oil? Sand? Date? Football team and leagues? The Emirate Airline? The teasing prices at its airport dutyfree shops? Or simply as one of the richest countries in the world?Many of us here...

'Takbir Akbar' to be held at Monas

'Takbir Akbar' to be held at Monas JAKARTA: Takbir Akbar will be held on the eve of Idul Fitri on Dec. 15 at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta and will be joined by a number of well-known performing artists.

JP/1/INSIDE

JP/1/INSIDEMegawati begins to feel the heat: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is facing difficulties in leading the government due to the failure of her party's legislators to control the House of Representatives, political analysts say.

Corporate Briefs

Corporate BriefsThe Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency said late Friday it had raised Rp 710 billion (US$68.3 million) from the sale of industrial estates formerly belonging to the Salim Group.IBRA sold the Riau Industrial Estates on Indonesia's Sumatra island to local company PT Dwi Sinergi...

Appeal for displaced persons

Appeal for displaced persons JAKARTA: The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Indonesia, Bo Asplund, has launched a consolidated interagency appeal (CAP 2002) for internally displaced persons in Indonesia, currently estimated at over 1 million people.

Muhammadiyah lags behind in producing Islamic thinkers

Muhammadiyah lags behind in producing Islamic thinkersThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia's largest Muslim social organizations, is falling behind when it comes to producing new Islamic thinkers, says a prominent Muslim scholar.

Flood hits Atambua

Flood hits Atambua ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: A flash food hit Atambua last Friday, leaving hundreds of local people homeless and dozens of hectares of rice fields damaged.The flood was triggered by incessant rain from Wednesday until Friday, causing the Benenai river that passes through the...

Beware of insincere NGO activists

Beware of insincere NGO activistsFrom Koran TempoThe news story about an activist of a non-governmental organization (NGO), who is allegedly accused of masterminding the manipulation of UN rice aid, as published in Koran Tempo of Nov.

Indonesian volunteers

Indonesian volunteers During the recent anti-American demonstrations, following the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden, there were daily reports about Indonesian volunteers signing up to fight alongside the Taliban in what they called a jihad (holy war).

Local NGOs call for national policy on trade liberalization

Local NGOs call for national policy on trade liberalizationTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A local non-governmental organization, the World Trade Organization Watch called on the government to immediately design a well-developed national plan that would help local businesses to be able...

Election bill discriminates against disabled: Critics

Election bill discriminates against disabled: CriticsKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The election bill discriminates against people with physical disabilities, critics said here on Saturday.The bill, which is being worked on at the home ministry before being proposed to the House of...

Estrada's son seeks new judge

Estrada's son seeks new judge PHILIPPINES: A son of deposed Philippines president Joseph Estrada on Sunday demanded a new trial for his father, accusing the judge of bias.Joseph Victor Ejercito urged Sandiganbayan anti-graft court judge Anacleto Badoy to remove himself from the case "if he has some...

WTO chief sees Vietnam accession within two years

WTO chief sees Vietnam accession within two years World Trade Organization director general Mike Moore said in Hanoi Friday that he hoped communist Vietnam could become a member of the global body by late 2003.

Police raid marijuana fields

Police raid marijuana fields LAHAT, South Sumatra: Lahat Police conducted a raid on a marijuana plantation on the slopes of Mount Dempo in the regency."The raid was conducted in line with the recent finding of six marijuana plants grown by a villager identified as Yah, 37, near Pagaralam in the...

Tommy: Hopes and opportunities

Tommy: Hopes and opportunitiesThe Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore The skepticism that has greeted the arrest on Wednesday of Indonesia's most-wanted fugitive, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, after a year-long hunt, shows that Indonesia has a long way to go before it breaks free of its...

Motorbike thief burned to death

Motorbike thief burned to death BOGOR: A man attempting to steal a motorcycle was burned to death by an angry mob in Cibanon village, Ciawi subdistrict of Bogor last Friday.Dedih, 40, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver who owns the vehicle said that the incident happened at 11:30 p.m.

Political move needed to retrieve Tommy's assets

Political move needed to retrieve Tommy's assetsFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It is a common public perception that Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has stashed away a huge fortune by plundering state assets, especially when his father Soeharto was president.

Pros and cons in human cloning

Pros and cons in human cloningPrapti Widinugraheni, Contributor, Jakarta Local scientists believe the state should start drafting rules on research into human cloning. Curious by nature and funds permitting, researchers aren't likely to quit their labs until they have produced the ultimate human...

Indonesia's opportunity

Indonesia's opportunity The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore The skepticism that has greeted the arrest on Wednesday of Indonesia's most-wanted fugitive, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, after a year-long hunt, shows that Indonesia has a long way to go before it breaks free of its past.

Dollar demand weakens, rupiah to slide

Dollar demand weakens, rupiah to slideBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Post The rupiah may take reprieve from low trading activities next week, but as the U.S. dollar supply thins, the local unit is still likely to slide even on mild dollar hunting, said one currency analyst.