Batam councillors get new cars Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam A number of non-governmental organizations have condemned the provision of luxury cars by the Batam administration to 26 members of the city legislative council, saying both the city administration and the legislature did not have a sense of crisis.

KL wants neighbors to boost border security Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia will ask Indonesian and Philippine authorities to intensify border security to prevent the return of thousands of illegal immigrants who were expelled from Malaysia in a recent crackdown, news reports said on Sunday. "We will request Indonesia and the Philippines to beef up security," Deputy Defense Minister Mohamed Shafie Apdal was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

Tangerang to build new toll road and port Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tigaraksa In its attempt to attract foreign investors, Tangerang regency has planned to build a new toll road from Serpong to Teluk Naga near the Soekarno Hatta airport, a container complex in Cikupa, and a seaport in Tanjung Pasir, Teluk Naga district.

House fire started by candle JAKARTA: A house burned down in Sunter Jaya, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Sunday morning. The fire, which started at about 10:15 a.m., was started by a child playing with a candle, according to the North Jakarta Fire Department. It was extinguished within less than an hour, Antara reported. Earlier, the news agency reported that fire destroyed dozens of houses in at least 13 locations across the city on Thursday and Friday during a blackout.

50 teachers killed recently in Aceh BANDA ACEH: The Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) Aceh chapter urged the government to give a security guarantee to teachers in the strife-torn province, as 50 teachers had been killed and 200 others physically assaulted in the past two years. Aceh PGRI chairman Aminuddin said that incidents of violence against teachers were not dealt with properly via due legal process.

JP/14/Brief Merpati starts flight to Philippines JAKARTA: Indonesia's Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) has opened a new route linking the city of Manado on Sulawesi island to Davao in the southern Philippines, an airline executive said Sunday. The new route is served once a week on Thursdays by a Fokker 28 with 85 passenger seats, MNA corporate secretary Iman Turidy told the Antara news agency. The first trial flight was held on Sept. 5 but the route was only officially inaugurated on Sept.

Police streamline driving license services JAKARTA: The city police have streamlined its services, allowing residents to get their driving licenses or renew their licenses at the nearest police precincts, instead of going to the Daan Mogot Integrated Service Office in West Jakarta. "Residents can go to the nearest police precinct from Oct. 1 to get their driving licenses or renew their old ones," National Police chief, Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday.

Plane fails to land in Manila PHILIPPINES: A Philippine Airlines plane from Australia failed to land in Manila on Sunday due to bad weather and was diverted to a central Philippine airport, officials said. The pilots of the Airbus 330, which originated from Melbourne and Sydney, decided to land in Cebu province after encountering low clouds and rains that obscured visibility in Manila, airport officials said.

War on terrorism: A political slogan or the real thing? Many say the United States government has gone too far in its war on terrorism. American Muslim scholar Mahmoud M. Ayoub, a professor of Islamic studies at Temple University in Philadelphia speaks to The Jakarta Post's Muhammad Nafik after addressing an international seminar on Islam and the West in Jakarta last weekend. Excepts follows: The U.S.

Airlines focus on efficiency to survive A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The liberalization of the country's airline industry two years ago has led to cut-throat competition among airline operators, forcing them to slash fares to gain customers. While the entry of new airlines provides travelers with more options and cheaper fares, there is been concern this will someday lead to compromised safety when financially strained airlines lower standards to reduce costs.

Activists urge suspension of election results Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Activists demanded on Sunday the results of the gubernatorial election be suspended following the recent confession by a candidate who admitted paying Rp 200 million (US$22,222) to 40 councillors. Interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post, the activists, lawyer Tubagus H.

Illegal fees mar anti-polio drive JAKARTA: Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said that there were some government workers demanding fees during the first part of a national polio vaccination program that was under way. Sujudi said, however, that the number of officials at fault was not significant enough to put the program in a bad light. "There are only a few of them, which doesn't compare to the millions of others who are honest workers," Sujudi said on Saturday.

Doing business with China The chairman of China's National People's Congress, Li Peng, recently visited Indonesia, opening up opportunities for increased bilateral economic ties that both sides must properly and quickly seize. In the New Order era, ethnic Chinese businesspeople were intentionally placed between the ruler and the people. During this period, Indonesia's economy grew impressively but was tainted by rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Ancient statue discovered YOGYAKARTA: A team of archeologists renovating the Kadulan temple east of Yogyakarta has discovered a stone statue of the Hindu god Siva, which is believed to be from the fifth century. Team leader Tri Hatmadji said the statue, which stands two meters high and weighs 2.3 tons, might have been buried by lava following the eruption of Mount Merapi in the year 1006. The statue was found on Friday in the compound of the temple and excavated the next day.

Boycott Akbar Tandjung From Rakyat Merdeka We were rightfully disappointed by the Bulog II trials as they failed to divulge the involvement of high-ranking members of Golkar and the Golkar Party as an institution for allegedly using non-budgetary Bulog funds for its own interests and for Golkar's election campaign in the 1999 general election. On Sept.

Mega's accusation of the press From Bisnis Indonesia The mass media needs to react to President Megawati's accusation that the press has blown the deportation of migrant Indonesian workers in Nunukan out of proportion by refraining to report anything connected to her as a President or a private person. This may be what Megawati wants, given that she is a tight- lipped introvert who cannot stand criticism.

Students protest gambling dens BATAM: Dozens of students from four universities in Batam staged a peaceful rally in front of the mayor's office on Saturday demanding the closure of gambling dens in the city. Hari, one of the students, said that gambling dens in the city were unrestrained because they received "protection" from corrupt officers in the local administration and in central government.

Domestic problems await Mega's arrival Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri returned home on Sunday evening from her trip to Africa and Europe, bringing with her a bundle of memorandums of understanding that need further discussion before they can materialize. Ending the 15-day whirlwind tour to six countries, Megawati touched down safely at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport and was greeted by Vice President Hamzah Haz and several Cabinet members.