'Eradicating corruption a priority' JAKARTA: The House of Representatives Commission II for domestic and legal affairs has urged Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra to make setting laws to eradicate corruption his top priority. Speaking at a hearing with Yusril and his staff on Monday, commission chairman Teras Narang said the country's anticorruption drive had failed to live up to public expectations due to weak legislation to cope with the crime.

1. BLUE: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS Italian 'Deep Blue' blends art and sea 2. KEMANG: 2 LINES, 24 COUNTS Kemang Festival proves Jakarta needs a good party

Bali resorts are heading for a more promising year Rita A.Widiadana The Jakarta Post Nusa Dua, Bali The word "resort" always conjures up a picture of a serene and integrated holiday site surrounded by white sandy beaches or a lush mountainous panorama where you can escape from your hectic life in the city and take a deep breath to rejuvenate your body and mind. And Bali offers dozens or maybe hundreds of such resorts across the island, from beach areas to secluded sites high up in the mountains.

One-year jail term sought for ex-banker Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Due to a lack of evidence, prosecutors recommended that the Central Jakarta District Court sentence former president commissioner of now-defunct Bank Modern Samadikun Hartono to one year in jail for misusing Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) funds in 1997. Chief prosecutor Y.W.

Hearings for Karaha case adjourned SINGAPORE: Hearings in Hong Kong and Singapore for a lawsuit by independent power producer Karaha Bodas Co. against Indonesia's national energy firm Pertamina have been adjourned, Simson Panjaitan, Pertamina's legal counsel said Monday.

Retreat islands in Singapore's backyard Fadli Contributor Batam The hotel business, including the resort hotels on Batam and the nearby island of Bintan, has been booming in the past three years despite a setback in the hotel industry in the other parts of the country. While many hotels are struggling to survive amid the downfall in the number of foreign tourists, the hotel industry on the two islands is doing quite well.

PKB faction countersues former chairman Matori The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Awakening Party (PKB) camp under Alwi Shihab is countersuing former chairman Matori Abdul Djalil for using the party's symbol and logo for his own political group. PKB deputy chairman Mahfud MD said on Monday the party had appointed noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis to prepare the lawsuit, to be filed with the South Jakarta District Court next week.

ASEAN signs world first environmental agreement Julia Yeow, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asia claimed an environmental world first on Monday, signing a regional agreement to tackle costly cross-border pollution caused by land and forest fires. Environment ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) inked the treaty on "transboundary haze pollution" at a ceremony in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Drug delivery foiled at airport TANGERANG: Customs and excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport managed to foil the delivery of 43 kilograms of marijuana from Banda Aceh into the city through a cargo service company, an official announced on Monday. Customs and excise chief Jusuf Indarto said that three people identified as Irwandi Ibrahim, Yono, and Riamis Riafil, the intended recipients of the illicit drugs, were arrested on Tuesday and Friday.

No Abu Sayyaf presence in RI, Malaysia JAKARTA: A Malaysian minister denied on Monday reports by the Philippine government that members of the Abu Sayyaf separatist group had infiltrated Malaysia and Indonesia. "It's not true that Abu Sayyaf members have entered Malaysia and Indonesia, as both countries would certainly prevent the entrance of wanted individuals from ASEAN," said Malaysia's tourism minister Dato' Abdul Kadir bin Hj.

Govt not serious about rights issues: Activists Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's serious lack of commitment to upholding basic rights in the political, social, economic and cultural spheres has created a vacuum where rights violations could flourish, activists said on Monday.

PERCOBAAN JANGAN DIPAKAI!!!!!!!! Children to receive health rights Debbie A. Lubis The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mega Susanti, a three-and-a-half year old girl, stares wide-eyed at the clown waving at her behind the entrance gate of Fantasy World in Ancol, North Jakarta. "C'mon daddy, hurry up. I want to see Mr Clown," Mega tells her father. Her eyes are sparkling. Impatient with her father's sluggishness, Mega grabs her father by his arm, dragging him to the park's gate.

New Tax Tribunal vows to uphold court transparency Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The newly established Tax Tribunal will open its court hearings to the public, a move that will disturb companies who want to keep certain information confidential. Secretary of the Tax Tribunal Achmad Suhari told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the new policy was based on the existing law on tax tribunals and was meant to help ensure transparency.

TNI to continue focusing on internal security Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In contrast to the defense concept earlier outlined in a decree of the People's Consultative Assembly on defense, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will likely stick to its previous policy of maintaining internal security instead of focusing on defending the country from possible external threats.

Petronas eyes BP refining stake KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas, Malaysia's state-owned oil and gas company, is interested in buying BP PLC's stake in Singapore Refining Co., Petronas' chief executive said Monday. "Yes, if the opportunity exists, we'd be interested to do something," Hassan Marican, Petroliam Nasional Bhd.'s chief, told reporters on the sidelines of an oil and gas conference in Kuala Lumpur.

PDI Perjuangan invited to meeting: After three exclusive meetings, Muslim politicians invited Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to the fourth gathering hosted by Alimarwan Hanan, secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP), on Monday evening. The ruling party was represented by deputy chairman Kwik Kian Gie and deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo.

Servicemen 'must resign' to contest DPD seats Muhammad Nafik and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Analysts welcomed on Monday moves to allow military and police personnel the right to contest elections, but insisted that they resign from the services completely before registering their candidacy as members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

Apkindo to launch production control unit Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Wood Panel Association (Apkindo) said on Monday that a special unit, to be called the Production Control Body (BPP), would start operating next month. Apkindo chairman Martias was quoted by Antara as saying that the BPP would help ensure the production volumes of plywood companies in the country did not exceed the sustainable capacity of the forests in providing raw material.

Alstom to build Vietnam power plant HANOI: Vietnam's state-owned power company has signed a contract with a consortium led by engineering group Alstom SA to build a US$215.6 million power plant in southern Vietnam, the power company's board chairman said Monday.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia BRI 14040 offers quick and easy banking transactions by phone Executives, professionals, academics and businesspeople who are always on the move can now make banking transactions by phone anywhere and anytime through Bank BRI, Indonesia's only bank which has offices in almost every town across the country.

Bambang DH appointed new Surabaya mayor Ainur Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta East Java Governor Imam Utomo appointed Surabaya Deputy Mayor Bambang DH as the city's new mayor at the Surabaya mayoralty on Monday, ending the controversy surrounding January's dismissal of Sunarto Sumoprawiro as mayor by the Surabaya legislative council.

PALYJA to double investment to improve clean water supply PT PAM Lyonaise Jaya (PALYJA), a subsidiary of ONDEO Services of France, will more than double its investment to improve and expand the supply of clean water in western Jakarta.

Megawati delays visit to Egypt CAIRO, Egypt: President Megawati Soekarnoputri will have to reschedule her planned visit to Egypt next September because of President Hosni Mubarak's tight schedule during that month. A source in the State Palace said on Monday that Megawati's proposed schedule for the visit to Cairo had been turned down by the Egyptian authorities. Indonesia's political attache in Cairo, Agil Salem Al-Attas, confirmed the report.

UN warns discord threatens sustainable development summit Associated Press, Venice An upcoming UN summit on sustainable development is in danger of collapsing in discord unless governments act quickly to ensure political commitments, a UN official said Monday. World leaders plan to meet in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August to craft a blueprint seeking to cut poverty and protect the environment.

June 12, 2001 - June 12, 2002 A Year of Philippine-Indonesian friendship and cooperation The Philippines and Indonesia have always enjoyed a deep friendship based on a sense of brotherhood as well as a sense of shared culture and history between Filipinos and Indonesians. Since the establishment of official diplomatic relations on Nov. 24, 1949, the two countries have supported each other's interests and national goals at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

Mega, Hamzah back Sutiyoso reelection for governor Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least 24 forms were collected by individuals and mass organizations during the first day of registration for gubernatorial candidates at the City Council on Monday, with the incumbent Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso being tipped as the strongest candidate.

Hendarsyah Tarmizi The Jakarta Post Jakarta Hoping for big fortune from China's LNG imports China is set to announce this month whether Indonesia, Australia or Qatar will win the multi-billion dollar contract to supply the country with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). For Indonesia, winning the tender will further strengthen its leading role in the world's LNG market.

Petronas eyes BP refining stake KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas, Malaysia's state-owned oil and gas company, is interested in buying BP PLC's stake in Singapore Refining Co., Petronas' chief executive said Monday. "Yes, if the opportunity exists, we'd be interested to do something," Hassan Marican, Petroliam Nasional Bhd.'s chief, told reporters on the sidelines of an oil and gas conference in Kuala Lumpur.