Fujian LNG contract reconfirmed The Jakarta Post, Jakarta China has reconfirmed the awarding of the Fujian liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract to Indonesia, ending speculation that it was reconsidering the contract following the recent visit of a Taiwanese politician to Indonesia. China's parliamentary speaker Li Peng told Vice President Hamzah Haz during their meeting on Tuesday that the contract reflected China's commitment to continuing energy cooperation with Indonesia. "Mr.

The good news and the major economic risks are waiting Mark Baird, World Bank Country, Director for Indonesia, Jakarta It's always hard to get a perspective on developments in Indonesia. We're all fixated by the daily turmoil of events, and rarely take the time to sit back and look at longer-term trends. Yet, when we do, we see confirmation for what is evident around Jakarta and even more so in the countryside: Indonesia has come a long way over the past 30 years.

More legislators sign petition to suspend Akbar The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A group of House of Representatives legislators are gathering support for speaker Akbar Tandjung's suspension, claiming to have secured 50 signatures while targeting 150, at least. The petition could amount to an informal vote of no confidence against Akbar, who was sentenced last week to three years in prison after being declared guilty of corruption.

Sports council to decide on Sandry's Asian Games trip Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Sports Council (KONI) said that it had allowed itself time to wait for the latest development in Sandry Liong's fitness before deciding whether the wushu hopeful should proceed to the Asian Games. "We are still waiting for the doctor's report," Indonesian contingent's Chef de Mission Rudolf S. Warouw said here on Tuesday.

Use of formalin in food probed BENGKULU: The Bengkulu Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) said Tuesday that it was looking for borax and formalin substances in meatball, tofu, fish, and noodles produced by local home industries. Bengkulu BPOM head Joko Triyono said that formalin, if consumed, will attack people's nervous systems, kidneys, and other vital organs.

Rahardi's sentence demands on Oct. 1 JAKARTA: Prosecutors are expected to announce their sentence demands on Oct. 1 for former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rahardi Ramelan for his alleged role in the high-profile Bulog scam involving Golkar Party Chairman Akbar Tandjung. Rahardi is being tried in the South Jakarta District Court for allegedly misappropriating Rp 62.9 billion in state funds between 1998 and 1999.

JP/5/Across Use of formalin in food probed BENGKULU: The Bengkulu Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) said Tuesday that it was looking for borax and formalin substances in meatball, tofu, fish, and noodles produced by local home industries. Bengkulu BPOM head Joko Triyono said that formalin, if consumed, will attack people's nervous systems, kidneys, and other vital organs.

'New governor should side with poor people' With the gubernatorial election drawing near, local residents speak of their hopes for an ideal figure for the next governor. They want someone better than the incumbent governor, Sutiyoso, who they consider unqualified. Some share their opinions with The Jakarta Post. Wiwit, 25, has been a shop assistant for six years and currently works at a leading optical shop.

Govt seeks Rp 2.3t for road repair in Java, Sumatra Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is seeking Rp 2.3 trillion (US$260 million) to repair damaged roads on the eastern coast of Sumatra island and Java's northern coast, according to a cabinet minister. Minister for Settlement and Infrastructure Soenarno said Tuesday that his office had set up two teams to deal with repair work on the two islands. "This (the repair of damaged roads) is the responsibility of my office.

The PPP saga The National Development Party (PPP) may be excluded from the next general election if it is found to have invested its money in the controversial agribusiness firm PT Qurnia Subur Alam Raya (QSAR). According to Law No. 2/1999 on political parties, a party, which is a nonprofit organization, is not allowed to have shares in a profit-oriented company. If found guilty, PPP will have to give up its right to participate in the election.

House Commission I joins call for ban on sand dredging Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Calls from the House of Representatives are mounting for the government to ban sand dredging in Riau waters to avoid further marine environmental damage and financial losses to the state. If the ban is imposed, this will effectively stop exports of sand from Riau to Singapore, which currently needs a huge amount of sand and soil for reclamation projects.

Cable television beats terrestrial in new broadcasting draft law Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Unlike television broadcasting stations which face an imminent threat of restriction, the subscribed or cable television will be allowed to relay or rerun programs from foreign channels.

Muslim liberal takes on militants Dean Yates Reuters Jakarta In the struggle for the public face of Islam in Indonesia, militant Muslims rarely encounter anyone willing to confront them head on. But Ulil Abshar-Abdalla, a young moderate Muslim intellectual, has taken the battle to the militants on the radio airwaves and through newspaper columns to defend Indonesia's traditional Islamic tolerance.