Painted 'kebaya', Bali's new fashion trademark Tri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali Traditional blouses, or kebaya, are inseparable from the lives of many Balinese women. They wear lace, cotton or silk kebaya, along with intricate songket woven cloth or batik wrapped cloth, at almost every religious ceremony, family and communal gathering. Like thousands of women on the island, Aryani Tedjamulya, who is better known as Niniek, feels extremely comfortable when wearing a kebaya.

UMNO told to get into election mood Jalil Hamid, Reuters, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia's ruling party leaders whipped up expectations of an early election on the eve of their annual party conference, with the Islamic opposition's image still suffering from a militancy scare after Sept. 11. "We should be in election mood," Rafidah Aziz, International Trade and Industry Minister told a meeting of the women's wing of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) on Wednesday.

New forum is "missing link" for Asian cooperation: Singapore FM Agencies Cha-Am, Thailand Singapore Foreign Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar on Wednesday praised a new Asian forum as a "missing link" for regional dialog. Jayakumar was joining ministers from 16 other countries in this seaside resort for discussions as part of the new Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

* Headlines: Media cross-ownership to be limited 3 * National: 191 lawmakers took out loans from Banpres 4 * Archipelago: 3 killed in communal clash in S. Sulawesi 5 * Opinion: Economic recovery needs more than stability 6 * City: Activist, bureaucrat run in election 8 * World: Israel to retake land if attacked 9 * Sports: Hewitt and Clijsters cruise to wins on grass 11 * Business: Bankruptcy law must be revised 13 * Features: Dolorosa Sinaga: Artist, role model 20

Seeking for bigger share in ASEAN car market Imanuddin, The Jakarta Post, Pattaya, Thailand Ford Motor Company, the Michigan-based car manufacturer, recently invited a number of journalists from ASEAN countries to Thailand and Vietnam as part of the company's ASEAN-wide campaign. The Jakarta Post's Imanuddin took part in the week-long trip. Major thoroughfares in metropolis Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila are flooded with various brands, types and models of automobiles.

One of four missing Indonesians found on southern RP island Agencies Zamboanga, Philippines One of four Indonesian crewmen kidnapped in southern Philippines waters by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels was recovered by the villagers in the rebel stronghold of Jolo island but his compatriots were still being held on Wednesday. Second officer Ferdinan Joel, 35, was found by residents in a village near the predominantly Muslim town of Luuk in Jolo island and immediately turned over to authorities.

Betawi artist has loyal Dutch following Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta Painter Sarnadi Adam is always associated with Betawi, a name which refers to everything indigenous to Jakarta. Born and bred in Jakarta, Sarnadi, a graduate of the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta, has since 1988 regularly explored the lives of the Betawi in his paintings.

Habitat care festival at BSD TANGERANG: The German International School in Bumi Serpong Damai housing estate held a one-day environmental festival, at which 18 school teachers from private and state schools in and around the complex took part. The festival is aimed at transferring knowledge about the environment to the participants, BSD spokesman Dhony Rahajoe said.

JP/19/BETAWI Betawi painter changes style Yusuf Susilo Hartono Contributor Jakarta Painter Sarnadi Adam is always associated with Betawi, a name which refers to everything indigenous to Jakarta. Born and bred in Jakarta, Sarnadi, a graduate of the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta, has since 1988 regularly explored the lives of the Betawi in his paintings.

Deal may see TNI retain MPR seats till 2009 The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A two-year-old political deal between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and legislators could mean the military retains its seats in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) until 2009, possibly ending efforts to remove the TNI from politics by 2004.

Indocopper goes private JAKARTA: Shareholders agreed on Wednesday to delist PT Indocopper Investama, a minority shareholder in mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia, from the Surabaya Stock Exchange following a move by U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold to control the firm, according to a statement. Freeport McMoRan is the majority shareholder of Freeport Indonesia. The U.S.

Indonesian escapes from RP rebel captors Agencies, Zamboanga, Philippines One of four Indonesian crewmen kidnapped in southern Philippines waters by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels was recovered by the villagers in the rebel stronghold of Jolo island but his compatriots were still being held on Wednesday. Second officer Ferdinan Joel, 35, was found by residents in a village near the predominantly Muslim town of Luuk in Jolo island and immediately turned over to authorities.

'Governor not elected on ethnic basis' The gubernatorial election may still be three months away, but people have begun discussing the candidates. One of the main issues is whether the next governor should be a Betawi (native Jakartan) despite the city's populace being a melting pot of various ethnic groups. Some people share their opinions with The Jakarta Post. Reni is a 27-year-old shop assistant who works on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta.

Aneka Tambang may issue bonds Dow Jones, Jakarta Indonesian state-owned miner PT Aneka Tambang, or Antam, is still considering issuing U.S. dollar bonds despite securing a $318.5 million loan to help finance plans to expand its ferronickel mining operations. Management are concerned the loan from German credit export agency Hermes Kredit Versicherungs AG may prove costly, a company source said on condition of anonymity.

New forum is 'missing link' for Asian accord Agencies, Cha-Am, Thailand Singapore Foreign Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar on Wednesday praised a new Asian forum as a "missing link" for regional dialog. Jayakumar was joining ministers from 16 other countries in this seaside resort for discussions as part of the new Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

Peace mediators visit Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Three officials from the Switzerland-based Henry Dunant Center, which has mediated peace talks between the Indonesian government and Aceh separatist rebels, visited Aceh province on Wednesday. The three -- General Rupert Smith, Andrew Marshall and David Gorman -- are seeking input on the implementation of a peace agreement between the government and Aceh separatists in Geneva in May, said a source from the center.

;REUTERS;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-S'pore-heroin Two men face gallows in Singapore over heroin haul JP/10/ASEAN Two men face gallows over heroin haul SINGAPORE: Two men face the death penalty in Singapore for possessing seven kg (15.4 pounds) of heroin after police smashed through a car windscreen to arrest them. Police said the two Singaporeans were charged with possession and trafficking offenses on Wednesday after what was described as the second-biggest haul of the drug this year.

Activist, bureaucrat add heat to election Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two more civilians -- architect-cum-activist Marco H. Kusumawijaya and the incumbent West Nusa Tenggara governor Harun Alrasyid -- registered themselves as candidates for city governor on Wednesday. Council chairman Edy Waluyo, an Army major general, also joined the race. Marco said should he be elected governor he would make Jakarta a clean city, both environmentally and bureaucratically.

Beyond the dress: Instilling morality Mochtar Buchori, Educator, Legislator, Jakarta There is a new school regulation that has worried many people. This is the regulation about the Islamic dress that both female and male students must wear on school days that happen to coincide with significant dates on the Islamic calendar. Initially this regulation applied only to schools in the West Jakarta mayoralty.

Trustworthy governor needed Marco Kusumawijaya's impassioned article of June 18 on the need for a trustworthy and competent Jakarta governor was inspiring. Its relevance, of course, is not confined to the governance of Jakarta. As a principle, it should be a template for stewardship through all tiers of government throughout Indonesia. It is indeed a "now or never moment" for making strategic choices and actions, in respect to the management of Jakarta.

Commission members reveal huge flaws in election bill Moch. N. Kurniawan and Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Though hailed as democratic, Indonesia's 1999 elections could hardly be called credible with a dismal record of 2,400 election campaign violations, including bribery, vote-rigging and extortion among its other vices. Can the current election bill be counted upon to guarantee a democratic election in the 2004 polls?

Most Asian monies up late, rupiah gains Alan Yonan Jr., Dow Jones, Singapore Most Asian currencies strengthened Wednesday as expectations of further declines in U.S. stock prices and Middle East tensions fueled investor disenchantment with the dollar. Market players were bracing for a drop at the Wall Street open following the release of negative news by a host of U.S. technology companies in after-hours trading.