Sarawak to hold poll on Sept. 27 KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak on Borneo island will hold elections to its legislative assembly on Sept. 27, the Bernama news agency said on Tuesday. Timber-rich Sarawak is one of the safest states politically for Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition. It holds 58 of the 62 seats in the state assembly.

Between words, deeds on E. Timor By Kusnanto Anggoro JAKARTA (JP): Soon after taking office, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a new presidential decree to expand the scope of an ad hoc tribunal for atrocities committed in East Timor. It may be too early to expect this decree to set a breakthrough in trying those responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed during 1999 in East Timor.

Persija wins Brunei league JAKARTA (JP): A sudden-death goal from Gendut Doni gave Indonesian league runner-up Persija of Jakarta the championship trophy at the Brunei League Invitational in Bandar Seri Begawan at the expense of Bec-Tero Sasana of Thailand on Monday. Trailing until 70 minutes into the game after a first-half goal from Sathanu Uthaisri, Bako Sadissou brought the game to life with an equalizer.

Sapu Lidi sweeps all before it in Bandung BANDUNG (JP): What springs to mind when you hear the name Bandung? The Paris of the East, art deco, the student scene, the cold? All of these perhaps? For me, however, when I hear the name Bandung it always conjures up in my mind images of the gentle Sundanese culture and epicurean delights.

Interpreting laws on corruption With reference to the news article titled NGOs propose Supreme Court audit team (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 1, 2001) and another article titled NGOs blast two court rulings on bribery cases (the Post, Aug. 27, 2001), allow me to make the following comment. The proposal by lawyers that the Supreme Court issue its ruling on differences in interpretation regarding the laws on corruption, Law No. 3/1971 and Law No.

Energy drink firm donates SEAG team JAKARTA (JP): Energy drink company Extra Joss has donated Rp 500 million (US$55,500) to the Indonesian team bound for the Southeast Asian Games. The donation was handed by the company executive Herman Widjaja to National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar in a ceremony that marked the official dispatch of the national athletes to the event last week.

Mega won't meet GAM members JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri is unlikely to meet with members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) during her weekend visit to the restive province, says an aide. "Ibu did not specifically mention the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members. She just said the Acehnese from all walk of life," Pramono told The Jakarta Post when contacted after a press conference.

Contributions and controversies of 30-year-old CSIS In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), The Jakarta Post's staff writer Harry Bhaskara talks to Dr. Hadi Soesastro, executive director of the well-known think tank in Indonesia. Question: What has the CSIS achieved in its 30 years of existence? Answer: It is not easy to answer this question.

Chefs set fried rice world record By Yuli Tri Suwarni BANDUNG (JP): Bandung has always attracted the attention of domestic and foreign tourists, especially with its various culinary offerings. The city's ambition to set a record within the world of cuisine attracted thousands of people who flocked to Gasibu square on Aug. 25. They wanted to witness a new world record created by Bandung chefs in making 5,000 kilograms of fried rice.

Toll road crashes cause tie-ups JAKARTA (JP): Two traffic accidents happened separately on toll roads on Tuesday. The first accident occurred at about 5:20 p.m. on the Jakarta- Merak toll road when an empty truck collided with another truck. The accident, which occurred at kilometer 24 near the Lippo Karawaci housing complex, Tangerang, caused heavy congestion in the westbound lanes of the toll.

ASEAN to have University: AIPO BANGKOK (AFP): Southeast Asian parliamentarians meeting in the Thai capital said on Tuesday they would consider a proposal to establish a regional "ASEAN University". Some 250 lawmakers and observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will discuss the idea at this week's general assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO).

Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept.

Budget for public order raids raised JAKARTA (JP): City Council's factions approved on Monday the administration's proposal to increase the current budget for public order operations from Rp 38 billion (US$4.2 million) to Rp 41 billion. The factions delivered their general views over a revised budget proposed by the city administration last week.

Ships to pay toll in Barito River BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Lawmakers in the provincial legislative council of South Kalimantan are currently discussing a plan to impose a toll on some vessels sailing the Barito River in the south of Kalimantan Island. Provincial Transportation Office head H. Ardiansyah confirmed on Monday that the fee would only be imposed on large cargo ships.

Govt confirms RI seeking debt relief JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Boediono confirmed on Tuesday that Indonesia would seek debt relief from international creditor nations, especially those grouped in the Paris Club, in order to ease pressure on the 2002 state budget.

Outlines of proposal from PDI Perjuangan

Sniper shoots university rector POSO, Central Sulawesi: A sniper shot the rector of Sintuvu Maroso University (Unsimar), J. Pogege, on Monday as he was on his way from the campus to his house in the village of Gebang Rejo. Pogege was rushed to Poso General Hospital to treat injuries to his forehead. The bullet first hit the side window of his car before hitting him. A hospital officer said the rector did not suffer serious injuries, but lost a lot of blood from the wound.

In countries like Indonesia .... relations between policy- makers and the advisory professions are very underdeveloped as most of them are based on personal relationships.

Radio promoted by UNESCO YOGYAKARTA (JP): An executive of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said here on Tuesday that Indonesian people must try to establish more small-scale community radio stations as an alternative way to prevent the country's disintegration.

Government avoids confrontation with newly empowered regions Excitement and confusion has followed the laws on regional autonomy and fiscal balance, and signs have emerged of the new government aiming to correct this dilemma. The following are excerpts from an interview with lecturer in politics Pratikno of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University with The Jakarta Post's Asip A. Hasani.

Appreciate our own teachers From Media Indonesia I would like to refer to a report in Suara Karya dated Aug. 23, 2001, titled The Bengkalis local administration pays teachers from Malaysia Rp 8 million per month/person which mentioned that Malaysian teachers work as tutors. My question is: Don't we have teachers, lecturers or experts just as good as the teachers coming from Malaysia?

Kuwait to help build 15 refugee villages JAKARTA (JP): The Kuwaiti government has pledged to fund the development of 15 villages to accommodate thousands of people who have been displaced from their homes across Indonesia. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Jamal M.A. Al-Nesasi said, after meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, that each village would consist of 50 units that could accommodate 50 families.

Money politics leads to court CIANJUR, West Java: A prosecutor asked Sukabumi District Court on Tuesday to sentence eight local legislative councillors to one year in jail each over money politics during the recent regent election. Prosecutor Joko Isworo also demanded that the court fined each of them Rp 50 million, Antara reported. The defendants had violated the law on corruption issued in 1999, the prosecutor said in his indictment.

BRI enjoys profit in H1 JAKARTA (JP): State Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) said on Tuesday that it had enjoyed an operating profit of Rp 856 billion (US$97 million) in the first six months of this year, compared to Rp 519 billion in losses in the same period last year. BRI president Rudjito said at a media conference that the first-half profit mainly resulted from an increase in interest income to Rp 5.2 trillion from Rp 3.5 trillion.

Lee favors KL power grid link KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew favors the idea of linking his island state's power grid with neighboring Malaysia's to provide a reserve buffer of power supply in times of need, a Malaysian official said on Tuesday. Jamaludin Jarjis, Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malaysia's biggest power utility, floated the proposal during a meeting between Lee and several backbench members of the parliament.

1. Mall, 48 MM, 3 clm, 3 x 15 Sutiyoso to take resolute action against mall builder 2. Diesel, 36HBC, 3 clm, 2 x 21 Price, supply problems cause diesel scarcity 3. Becak, 36 NCSB, 4 clm, 2 x 16 Bylaw on 'becak' not to be reviewed 4. Pawn, 28MM, 3 clm, 2 x 24 Senen pawn shop offers a solution to fast cash 5. Sofyan, 2 x 17 Police grill Yenni on Tommy's whereabouts 6. Banjar, 2 x 17 Bimantoro violated law, court told Focus: 3 stories

Acts of violence on the rise From Pikiran Rakyat Acts of violence have been on the increase. There are news stories about somebody who has been killed following a quarrel over Rp 100,000, then there is another story about people taking the law into their own hands and burning a thief to death after they were caught stealing red-handed. Stories abound about knifings, shootings and armed robberies. On Sept.

Pertamina to shut down Balikpapan refinery JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina will halt production at one unit of its refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan province, for more than three weeks next month to allow it to carry out essential maintenance work. Spokesman for Pertamina's downstream directorate Adiatma Sardjito said that Pertamina had scheduled to turn around Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) No. V of Unit II early this year.

Another train accident Scores of lives were once again lost in a railway accident on Sunday, and this time it was a real irony because the mishap occurred at a railway station -- the Kejaksan Railway Station in Cirebon, West Java. The public has a right to be critical about the accident because it was reportedly the worst train accident since 1998.