...Megawati's government must ask itself whether it wants to hold out against Salim.

KEM expects lower losses in 2001 KELIAN, East Kalimantan (JP): Gold mining company PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) expects its financial losses to be lower at about US$5 million this year compared to $10 million in 2000. Company president Charlie Lenegan said on Saturday the decline was mainly due to the reduction of waste rock being moved from the pit to the storage area.

Explanation of exit tax exemption From Bisnis Indonesia In response to Ms Yenny Rosmiyani's letter published in this newspaper on July 25, 2001, allow us to give the following explanation: 1. Article 2 sub-article (3) of Decision of the Director General of Taxation No. Kep. 37/PJ/2001 dated Jan.

Suwondo sentenced to 3.5 years in jail over Bulog scandal JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta District Court sentenced former president Abdurrahman Wahid's former masseur Muhammad Alip Agung Suwondo on Monday to three and a half years in jail for his role in the Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) scandal at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). Presiding Judge Suwardi said Suwondo was guilty of embezzling the Rp 35 billion fund from Bulog's Yanatera employee foundation.

Ministers must be clean From Koran Tempo The election of Megawati Soekarnoputri as president and Hamzah Haz as vice president has been positively responded to by the markets, which has been shown by the strengthening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar from Rp 11,000 to Rp 10,000.

Confusion marks President's first day at the palace JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri's first day at the presidential palace was marked with confusion among journalists assigned to cover her day's activities. Megawati, who arrived at the palace at about 10 a.m., smiled and waved to the journalists on hand, who were arguing with the presidential security guards over whether they were allowed to take pictures of the President or not.

'Reog' makers keeping an art alive By Kartika Bagus C. PONOROGO, East Java (JP): Ponorogo, a small town in East Java, has always been linked to its traditional art form, reog. The mask-dance troupes have performed not only in Java, but also in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya, as well as in Malaysia and Suriname. Reog is usually performed by means of dhadak merak (a peacock- plume crested tiger mask), gamelan musical instruments, special suits and masks.

Gus Dur's legacy From Media Indonesia Regardless of former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's weaknesses, we believe that some of what he has done is positive and should even be lauded. Democratization is a good example in this respect.

Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug 6, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,325 0 21,000 Adindo Foresta 100 -5 185,000 AGIS 135 0 30,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 1,600 0 0 Alakasa 200 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 950 0 68,500 Alter Abadi 85 0 0 Alumindo Light 625 0 0 Andhi Chandra 2,025 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 200 0 0 Aneka Tambang 1,025 -25 1,179,000 Apac Citra 370 -5 12,500 Aqua...

Tens of thousands may lose jobs in Batam JAKARTA (JP): Tens of thousands of workers on Batam island may eventually lose their jobs because of continuing low demand for products from the island. Incoming orders for products from the island, especially electronics, have decreased by up to 70 percent, according to the general manager of Batamindo Industrial Estate, John Sulistiawan.

Legislators' perquisites From Kompas I was baffled by the report on the salary and perquisites of our representatives published on June 26, 2001 in Kompas. Apart from receiving a basic salary of Rp 9.7 million, each member of the House of Representative (DPR)) also receives furniture, air conditioners, an electric stove, a washing machine worth Rp 6 million and allowances for renovation.

Stores offer 'designer' shoes at affordable prices JAKARTA (JP): You like the designer shoes featured in a latest issue of a glossy fashion magazine, but you are not willing to spend millions of rupiah on them when there are more important things to buy. If you want to wear such shoes but not spend an outrageous sum on them, you may want to check this spot near the Perbanas (National Banking) College in Karet Setia Budi, Kuningan, South Jakarta. It is obviously not a posh place.

Indofarma sees drop in profit JAKARTA (JP): The consolidated net profit of publicly listed state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Indofarma fell by 44.38 percent to Rp 41.26 billion (US$4.5 million) in the first semester of this year from Rp 74.17 billion in the same period last year. According to its unaudited financial report as per June 30, 2001, the company also booked a decrease in its operating profit from Rp 115.55 billion to Rp 70.82 billion.

Five wanted for abduction JAKARTA(JP): The North Jakarta Police are seeking five men for their alleged roles in the kidnapping of Bill Dharmawan, brother of the owner of the country's largest retail chain, PT Matahari Putra Prima, an officer said on Monday. "We identified them after we obtained their descriptions from the victim and also as a result of our preliminary investigations," North Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Andi Chaeruddin said.

Summit puts South in corner SEOUL (AFP): South Korean leader Kim Dae-jung was driven into corner on Monday by his political opponents after the leaders of North Korea and Russia called for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Korean peninsula. President Kim Dae-jung has said his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-il at their summit in June 2000 did not oppose the U.S. presence in the region left over since the two sides of the peninsula split after the Korean War in 1953.

1. Duit (2x 25) Asian currencies maintain strength on domestic factors 2. Market 1x35 Asian share markets look for direction 3. Gold (1 x 35) Europe gold stays in range, PGMs vulnerable 3. Telkom (2 x 22) Telkom covers expenses of AriaWest telecom regions