Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 17 July 2001

66 articles found

Text and photo

Text and photo by Nuraini Razak JAKARTA (JP): Nervous teenage girls squeeze into their flashy designer clothes backstage. They then apply eyeliner and lipstick with careful precision before admiring their reflection in the mirror. They all have the same hope: winning the cover girl contest.

500 poor students to be enrolled

500 poor students to be enrolled JAKARTA (JP): Some 500 junior high school graduates from disadvantaged families, who as of Monday had yet to be accepted by any school due to their low grades, will soon be placed in a number of public senior high schools to join their peers for the new academic...

PLN executives investigated

PLN executives investigated TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang Prosecutor's Office will immediately launch an investigation in a suspected Rp 6.9 billion corruption case involving two executives and two staff members of Tangerang's state-run electricity company (PLN), an official said on Monday.

IBRA restructuring rules aim for transparency

IBRA restructuring rules aim for transparency JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) expects to make its debt-restructuring deals fully transparent with the issuance of restructuring principles in response to criticisms that the agency has been offering "sweetheart" deals to...

Revenue targets hiked by up to 20%

Revenue targets hiked by up to 20% JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Monday that it had raised its revenue targets from taxes, privatization and asset sales, to between 5 percent and 20 percent more than stipulated in the state budget to help contain its deficit to as much as 3.

Audit commission to verify officials' wealth

Audit commission to verify officials' wealth JAKARTA (JP): The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) disclosed on Monday that only 18 percent of state officials had returned their wealth declaration forms, and of those, almost half contained irregularities.

Reform targets hinge on improved market confidence

Reform targets hinge on improved market confidence JAKARTA (JP): The government said its macroeconomic targets, as contained in the next letter of intent (LoI), depended on the recovery of market confidence this year amid doubts over the country's economic prospects due to continued political...

Junior tennis c'ships begin

Junior tennis c'ships begin SEMARANG (JP): The organizing committee expects 300 junior tennis players to take part in the Rp 13.5 million (US$1,170) Martina Cup national junior tennis championships."The championships start on Tuesday at the Sasana Ambirawa Raga sports hall in Ambarawa, Central...

Flyovers not yet a security priority: Police

Flyovers not yet a security priority: Police JAKARTA (JP): Despite two blasts under flyovers in the capital in the past few days, the city police have not put flyovers at the top of their security priority list.City police chief of detectives Sr. Comr.

Pros and cons of transgenic cotton continue in S. Sulawesi

Pros and cons of transgenic cotton continue in S. SulawesiBy Hasanuddin Hamid MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Public controversy over transgenic cotton lingers on as cotton plantations in Balleanging village in Bulukumba regency, some 160 kilometers south of Makassar in South Sulawesi, are attacked...

Gus Dur gets warm welcome during his N. Sulawesi tour

Gus Dur gets warm welcome during his N. Sulawesi tour JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid received on Monday a warm welcome during his tour to Bitung, North Sulawesi, when thousands of elementary and high school students cheerfully greeted him.

SIA buys 10 superjumbos

SIA buys 10 superjumbos PARIS (AFP): The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said on Monday that Singapore Airlines has confirmed its intention to buy 10 superjumbo A380-800 airplanes, taking to 67 the total number of firm orders and letters of intent for the aircraft.

Activists call for an act of civil disobedience

Activists call for an act of civil disobedience JAKARTA (JP): Political activists are calling for an act of civil disobedience by rejecting all regulations, policies and taxes imposed by the government and the House of Representatives.

Golden Agri, AFP ask for suspension of share trading

Golden Agri, AFP ask for suspension of share trading SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asia Food & Properties Ltd. and its unit, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd., requested suspension of trading in their shares on Monday.

Indoprom did not contact me

Indoprom did not contact me I read with interest PT Indoprom's letter by Rizal Vikdazir, the subscription division head (The Jakarta Post July 14, 2001, Indoprom responds). I read the letter with interest because that was the first time I heard of this person.

Sight, hearing required for future presidents

Sight, hearing required for future presidents JAKARTA (JP): Doctors here have suggested that a complete command of one's physical senses, which includes sight and hearing, along with other developed mental functions, be a mandatory requirement for future presidents.

BII plans rights issue to fund its acquisition

BII plans rights issue to fund its acquisition JAKARTA (JP): Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) is planning a rights issue to enable state-owned Bank Mandiri to acquire the financially troubled banking unit of the Sinar Mas group, BII's new management said Monday.

Great promotions launched despite uncertainties

Great promotions launched despite uncertainties JAKARTA (JP): Housing and property developers are currently promoting their projects with attractive advertisements in the media. Property exhibitions are also held regularly in the capital.

'PT KAI not to blame for railroad accident'

'PT KAI not to blame for railroad accident' PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The state-owned railway company (PT KAI) must not be blamed in the deadly collision between a coal train and a Tasima Star 2000 intercity bus in Prabumulih, South Sumatra, on Sunday, a railroad official said on Monday.

Expats told to register with immigration

Expats told to register with immigration JAKARTA (JP): All expatriates residing in Indonesia will be required to register at local immigration offices between Aug. 10 and Oct. 10.The Immigration Office announced on Monday that registration would be mandatory for all overseas nationals living in...

Nat'l boxers leave for Cuba

Nat'l boxers leave for Cuba JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian boxers being prepared for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games left on Monday for Havana to begin a 50-day training program.The boxers are light flyweight Bonix Saweho, bantamweight Juan Sapahipan, lightweight David Iskiwar, light...

Mahathir shows caution on electricity deregulation

Mahathir shows caution on electricity deregulation KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Citing the fiasco in California, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Monday that his government will be cautious about deregulating the government-controlled electricity sector.

A privilege through memberships

A privilege through memberships JAKARTA (JP): In the United States there are several private golf clubs that only allow up to 200 members and whose membership and annual fee run into the millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars, respectively.

Malaysian palm oil jumps

Malaysian palm oil jumps KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil futures ended mostly higher on renewed speculative buying despite weak export figures for the first 15 days of June, traders said.The new benchmark third-month October contract ended up 39 ringgit at 1,114 ringgit ($293.

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership Philippine-Indonesian relations are characterized by a genuine sense of brotherhood borne out of centuries of close and vibrant interaction as neighbors. In precolonial times, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples.

No recession for Malaysia: Mahathir

No recession for Malaysia: Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is not expected to plunge into another recession this year despite the U.S. slowdown, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.He told a press conference that "as far as we can read, the figures do not show that we are going...

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 16, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,400 0 605,000 Adindo Foresta 120 0 0 AGIS 140 -5 1,107,000 Alakasa 160 0 0 Alfa...

Mahathir admits mistakes, no regrets after 20 years

Mahathir admits mistakes, no regrets after 20 years KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad racked up 20 years in power on Monday, while over 30 countrymen waited to be charged for protesting outside a detention camp where leading opposition activists are being held.

NGOs sue govt over Sampit case

NGOs sue govt over Sampit case JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court started hearing on Monday a lawsuit filed by five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) against the government for its failure to prevent the bloodshed in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, between February and March this year.

RI and GAM hold peace talks in Aceh

RI and GAM hold peace talks in Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The joint committee, representatives of the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels group held peace talks here on Monday, to discuss, among other things, the establishment of a joint democracy council.

'Alang-alang' children scrape by on the docks

'Alang-alang' children scrape by on the docks BATANG, Central Java (JP): The fish auction center at Batang Port swarms every morning with brokers and, during holidays, with women customers looking for bargains.

Wahana starts delivery of 400 buses

Wahana starts delivery of 400 buses JAKARTA (JP): Bus maker PT Wahana Perkasa Auto Jaya, a subsidiary of PT Texmaco, started delivering on Monday the first of a total of 400 public transportation buses to its buyers.

Property market remains bleak

Property market remains bleakBy I. Christianto There are no promising signs yet that there is even a slow recovery in the property and real estate sector. Meanwhile, in the stock market, concerns over weak consumer demand has dragged down property and real estate heavyweights.

I was misquoted

I was misquoted First of all, I would like to thank The Jakarta Post for taking part at the Jakarta Great Sale Media Tour on July 11, 2001.Reading the Post on July 13, 2001, however, I was most disappointed as I had been misquoted twice in your article titled Jakarta Great Sale campaign has few...

Every computer needs a peripheral

Every computer needs a peripheralBy Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Come to think of it, a computer system is so much like our stomach. It typically consists of one or more input devices, one central processing unit (CPU), and one or more output devices.

Swiss woman found dead in Bogor

Swiss woman found dead in Bogor BOGOR (JP): A Swiss woman reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the second floor of the Persatuan Bangau Putih martial arts dormitory in Sampai Village here on Monday.The victim was said to have been suffering from malaria.

Rupiah rate July 16

Rupiah rate July 16 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,840.00 11,840.00 11,283.00 11,397.00Australian dollar 1 5,512.14 6,026.56 5,737.41 5,801.07Austrian schilling 1 673.07 735.60 700.58 708.07Belgian franc 1 229.59 250.92 238.97 241.

Hostages 'won't become int'l issue'

Hostages 'won't become int'l issue' TIMIKA, Irian Jaya: Irian Jaya Governor Jaap Solossa said the Indonesian and Belgian governments had agreed not to make the kidnapping of two Belgian nationals by rebels in the province into an international issue.

President's plan to move sports complex contested

President's plan to move sports complex contested JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to relocate the Bung Karno sports complex from the Senayan district of Central Jakarta to the site of the former Kemayoran airport in East Jakarta was greeted by many negative comments on Monday.

Regency suspends sand quarrying

Regency suspends sand quarrying JAKARTA (JP): The Riau administration has halted sand quarrying and sand exports to Singapore indefinitely, regent Muhammad Sani announced on Monday.The regent said that the suspension, effective as from early July, was aimed at improving the regulation of the...

Asian sugar trade likely to remain thin

Asian sugar trade likely to remain thin BANGKOK (Reuters): Asian sugar trade is expected to remain thin in coming days, with little fresh demand seen as the market awaits a Chinese tender mid-week, traders said on Monday.

Javanese Language Congress lures foreigners

Javanese Language Congress lures foreigners YOGYAKARTA (JP): The United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Suriname and Malaysia are represented at the third Javanese Language Congress being held at the Ambarrukmo Palace Hotel from July 16 to July 21.

Prepare yourself, Mr. President!

Prepare yourself, Mr. President!From Koran TempoPresident Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has again exhibited overconfidence in his attitude toward politics. During an interview with Maria Ressa from CNN Jakarta bureau on July 12, he was very confident that he would survive the special session of the...

Sumitomo plans $150m plant

Sumitomo plans $150m plant TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's biggest nickel producer, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd, said on Monday it will go ahead with a laterite nickel project in the Philippines using a new acid leaching technology, jointly with Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.

Rain brings Pontianak reprieve

Rain brings Pontianak reprieve PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: After being chocked by thick smog for almost three weeks, Pontianak residents welcomed the rain that fell on Sunday and Monday.The heavy rains brought a reprieve for residents who have been suffering through the haze, caused by forest fires...

Tales of battery operated mice

Tales of battery operated miceBy Zatni ArbiJAKARTA (JP): Have you been handling your mouse like a matchbox? Do you have to drag it all over your desktop to get the cursor to the spot where you want it on the screen? Then it is time to go out and buy a new mouse. That was just what I did last week.

The hardship and toil of a fisherman's life

The hardship and toil of a fisherman's lifeBy Ahmad Solikhan BATANG, Central Java (JP): It happens day in and day out with no change. Hundreds of fishing boats dock at Batang Port after dusk, and early the next morning the fishermen hurriedly pack their catch for delivery to the local fish auction...

Picking the proper clubs

Picking the proper clubs JAKARTA (JP): Taking up the game of golf can be a confusing process for beginners because there are so many options when it comes time to select your equipment.There is a wide range of prices to choose from, depending on brand, specifications, materials and so on.

DFNN.com to run in Indonesia

DFNN.com to run in Indonesia MANILA (AFX-ASIA): Diversified Financial News is setting up an office in Indonesia to market its stock trading software and other e-solutions, DFNN. com president Ramon Garcia Jr said."We'll be selling our products in Indonesia.

Hosting Olympics may boost Beijing's image

Hosting Olympics may boost Beijing's image SEOUL: The selection of Beijing as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games is regarded by many as the formal recognition by the international community that China has pulled itself out of its erstwhile status as a second-tier power in Asia and is now...

TPJ announces water disruption

TPJ announces water disruption JAKARTA(JP): A city tap water company, PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ), announced on Monday that customers in a number of areas in East and North Jakarta would experience water supply disruptions from Tuesday through Friday due to routine maintenance work.

40 prostitutes detained

40 prostitutes detained JAKARTA (JP): City police detained over 40 suspected prostitutes on Monday, following the arrest of seven alleged drug dealers at a boardinghouse at Jl. Mangga Besar No. 13 in West Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

Military, Police to oppose decree on state of emergency

Military, Police to oppose decree on state of emergency JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military and the National Police reconfirmed on Monday their opposition to President Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to declare a state of emergency ahead of the planned People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session.

Announcement

Announcement Due to the increase in production costs over the past year, which have been exacerbated by the recent increase of fuel and electricity prices, The Jakarta Post, while continuing to provide readers with up-to-date news and high quality information, has been compelled to raise its...

RI greenfields among the region

RI greenfields among the region JAKARTA (JP): Golf Digest Indonesia in its June 2001 edition identified Indonesia as home to some 250 golf courses.In the edition, the monthly presented "the best golf courses in 100 countries" in the Planet Golf column.

Authorities prepare detailed contingency plan

Authorities prepare detailed contingency plan JAKARTA (JP): The city police and military have reportedly prepared a contingency plan should security conditions take a turn for the worse prior to or during the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

IMF's ominous message

IMF's ominous message Very few people would have missed the negative signal sent by the failure of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Indonesian government to agree on a new reform accord last week, however hard both parties tried to sugarcoat the unpleasant reality with such comments as...

Expats residing in Indonesia told to register themselves

Expats residing in Indonesia told to register themselves JAKARTA (JP): All expatriates residing in Indonesia will be required to register at local immigration offices between Aug. 10 and Oct. 10.The Immigration Office announced on Monday that registration would be mandatory for all overseas...

Govt undecided over plan for phone rate hike

Govt undecided over plan for phone rate hike JAKARTA (JP): The government is still undecided over the new schedule for raising phone rates after it was forced to delay its rate hike plan last month."If it were up to us (the government), we would want to implement the rate hike as soon as possible.

Evaluating the regional autonomy policy

Evaluating the regional autonomy policyBy Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): In the early 1990s countries in Asia such as the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea began their regional autonomy processes, yet this trend seemed to elude Indonesia at that time.

On the fast lane into oblivion?

On the fast lane into oblivion?By Avie K. Utomo JAKARTA (JP): It's 6:47 a.m. on Saturday. A speeding S-Type blue Jaguar passes on Jagorawi toll road.The person behind the wheel is driving fast to join his already waiting golfing buddies.

Rates for tax payment, valid from June. 16 to July. 22

Rates for tax payment, valid from June. 16 to July. 22 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 11,325.00Austrian schilling 1 Rp 700.06Australian dollar 1 Rp 5,719.13Belgian franc 1 Rp 238.80Canadian dollar 1 Rp 7,388.44Swiss franc 1 Rp 6,317.64Deutschemark 1 Rp 4,930.99Danish krone 1 Rp 1,296.24French franc 1 Rp 1,468.

Indosat seeks to pay tax by installment

Indosat seeks to pay tax by installment JAKARTA (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Indosat is seeking government approval to pay in installments Rp 3 trillion (about US$265.5 million) in taxes related to crossholding transactions it concluded with PT Telkom, an executive said on Monday.

Cengkareng Hospital to be completed soon

Cengkareng Hospital to be completed soon JAKARTA (JP): The construction of city-owned Cengkareng Hospital, worth Rp 134 billion (US$12 million), is expected to be completed in November and ready to serve the public by 2003, an official revealed on Monday.

Poso reconciliation team under fire

Poso reconciliation team under fire POSO, Central Sulawesi (JP): The team formed by the Central Sulawesi provincial administration to facilitate a reconciliation between conflicting groups in Poso has come under fire for its poor performance.

Can ASEAN rid itself of drugs?

Can ASEAN rid itself of drugs?By Kavi Chongkittavorn BANGKOK: The Association of Southeast Asians is proud that it discussed combating drugs as early as 1972, even though little progress has been made since then.