Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 January 2003

80 articles found

'Busway to worsen the traffic jam'

'Busway to worsen the traffic jam'Ahmad Junaidi and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The controversial busway project will likely again be delayed due to poor planning, while a senior police officer predicted on Tuesday the Rp 90 billion project would worsen traffic congestion in the city.

Petronas inks contract in Vietnam

Petronas inks contract in Vietnam KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian national oil firm Petronas and counterpart PetroVietnam inked a pact Tuesday to jointly explore and develop hydrocarbon resources off the coast of Vietnam.

City authorities fail to address poverty issue

City authorities fail to address poverty issueBenget Simbolon Tnb., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The year 2002 has ended. But as in previous years, there have been no encouraging moves on the part of the city administration to tackle the problem of poverty.

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, January 8, 2003 Exhibitions* Painting: Pameran Bareng-Bareng by artists like Yunus Djubair, Budi Utomo, MR Nasution, Kyoto Suzuki and Puji Ami; Galeri Surabaya, Dewan Kesenian Surabaya, Jl. Pemuda 15, Surabaya, (Tel. 031-5454120), Jan. 21-25, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

46 houses flooded in Mataram

46 houses flooded in Mataram MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Flooding triggered by days of rain has submerged at least 46 houses in Batulayar Village of West Lombok, forcing hundreds of people to seek refuge.Village head Zulkarnaen said on Tuesday that floodwaters stood at 1.

KPKPN to fight for its existence

KPKPN to fight for its existence JAKARTA: Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) chairman Yusuf Syakir said on Tuesday that he would file a judicial review with the Supreme Court over a government decision to dissolve the commission and establish an anticorruption commission.

Activist gets six months in jail for insulting President Megawati

Activist gets six months in jail for insulting President MegawatiNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh The Banda Aceh District Court sentenced woman activist Raihana Diani on Tuesday to six months in prison for insulting President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz...

House urged to quiz Laksamana

House urged to quiz Laksamana JAKARTA: To settle the public controversy over the divestment of state-owned telecommunications company PT Indosat, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) urged the House of Representatives on Tuesday to summon State Minister for State-Owned...

Public needs an explanation

Public needs an explanation None of us could have imagined before that diesel fuel would be more expensive than premium gasoline. Therefore, there must be some credible explanations as to why premium is now more expensive than diesel fuel.

Govt urged to trim bureaucracy, revise tax system

Govt urged to trim bureaucracy, revise tax systemDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Reducing the cumbersome and costly bureaucracy and fixing the current tax system should be at the top of the list of the government's economic agenda this year if it wants to reduce existing snags faced by...

Provincial Minimum Wages (UMP) 2002-2003 (in rupiah)

Provincial Minimum Wages (UMP) 2002-2003 (in rupiah) --------------------- 2003 No Province UMP2002 UMP2003 Increase Min. Cost of in percentages Living 1 Nanggroe Aceh D. 330,000 425,000 28.79 520,900 2 North Sumatra 464,000 505,000 8.8 455,996 3 West Sumatra 385,000 450,000 16.

Experts call for equal powers for DPR, DPD

Experts call for equal powers for DPR, DPDKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Although the nation has officially adopted a bicameral parliamentary system, the authority of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) is less powerful than that of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Public bathrooms for Tangerang

Public bathrooms for Tangerang TANGERANG: A delegation of the Indonesia-Netherlands Joint Committee for the Repatriation of Maluku People (Panmal) inaugurated on Tuesday 12 public bathrooms (MCK) in Neglasari subdistrict, Tangerang.

Enhancing promotion to deal with five percent target of 2003

Enhancing promotion to deal with five percent target of 2003 exportSari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta The National Agency for Export Development (BPEN) will intensify its promotional activities abroad this year to support government aims to increase exports by 5 percent.

Wages raised across the country, overtaken by rising living cost

Wages raised across the country, overtaken by rising living costZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minimum wages have been increased nationwide by between 5.3 percent and 28.79 percent as of Jan. 1, but labor activists declared the increases inadequate to cope with the recent rises in the cost...

Nuclear power plant set for 2010

Nuclear power plant set for 2010 JAKARTA: The government is considering to revive plans to build a nuclear power plant in 2010, Antara reported."We must develop the nuclear (field) in a bid to be respected (by other countries).

1. Nagari1 -- W.Sumatra reinvents its roots

1. Nagari1 -- W.Sumatra reinvents its roots 2. Nagari2 -- West Sumatra's unique form of administration3. War -- U.S. weapons of most destruction

1. ACEH: 3 X 22

1. ACEH: 3 X 22 JSC sends more peace monitors to Aceh as GAM vows to pursue peace 2. PAPER: 1 x 40 Paper industry accused of rights abuses or Rights' watch accuses paper industry of abuses 3. IRAQ: 1 x 60 President Bush 'discouraged' by Iraqi president's posturing 4.

Sleazy hub of Jakarta needs order

Sleazy hub of Jakarta needs orderFrom Warta KotaThe mayor of West Jakarta deserves some praise for putting in order the messy stalls of sellers of pirated VCDs in front of the Harco shopping center in downtown Glodok.

1,000 religious leaders to meet in Makassar

1,000 religious leaders to meet in Makassar MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: At least 13 ambassadors will attend a national meeting of religious leaders from throughout Indonesia, which is scheduled to take place from Jan. 14 to 15 in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar.

1. PROTEST:

1. PROTEST: Violence erupts as street demonstrations heighten 2. WAGE: 1 x 50 Wages raised, but overtaken by living cost 3. 3 x 20 Foreign, domestic investment plunged sharply in 2002

1. Busway - 1x27

1. Busway - 1x27 'Busway to worsen traffic jam' 2. Flood - 2x 17 Administration ready to anticipate floods 3. Canal - 2x 25 Flood canal construction still uncertain: minister 4. Urban - 1x 40 Sutiyoso fails to address poverty issue 5. Speak - 2x 20 'Fare hike will cause spats with passengers'

Trial against 'Time' adjourned

Trial against 'Time' adjourned JAKARTA: The South Jakarta district court adjourned for more than two months on Tuesday a defamation lawsuit filed by Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir against U.S. magazine Time and its journalists after the accused failed to show up.

Administration ready to anticipate floods

Administration ready to anticipate floodsBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration claimed on Tuesday that it had made comprehensive preparations in anticipation of flooding expected to hit the capital this month, in particular flood relief and medical care.

The politics of Muslims-Christian relations in Indonesia

The politics of Muslims-Christian relations in Indonesia Bob S. Hadiwinata Head International Relations Department, University of Parahyangan, Bandung Open conflict between the majority Muslims and minority Christians has been rare in Indonesian history.

Lawyers want Bali bombing trial moved for security reasons

Lawyers want Bali bombing trial moved for security reasonsWahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali A group of unidentified men attacked on Tuesday two lawyers who are defending the suspects in the Bali bombing case, injuring one and strengthening the defense team's call for the...

Percasi to recruit Russian chess coach

Percasi to recruit Russian chess coachThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) will be scouring Russia for a chess trainer as part of its campaign for the medal hunt at the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, an official said.

BPEN plans to boost promotional activities to reach export target

BPEN plans to boost promotional activities to reach export targetSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Agency for Export Development (BPEN) will intensify its promotional activities abroad this year to support government aims to increase non-oil and gas exports by 5 percent.

Stock prices on The Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan.7, 2003

Stock prices on The Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan.7, 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk...

4 x 10

4 x 10 Maluku to repatriate thousands of refugees JP/5/jatim2 x 26 E. Java government earmarks Rp 115b for disaster control Batek1 x 35 TNI to build post on remote island JP/5/Tobasa1 x 45 Toba-Samosir on long road to industrialization

;JP;dan;

;JP;dan; ANPAf..r.. Rupiah-conversion-ratesRupiah Rates Jan. 7 JP/13/ConverRupiah Rates Jan. 7 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp Australian dollar 1 5,424.18 4,845.06 5,162.60 5,106.42Brunei dollar 1 5,422.41 4,844.92 5,160.92 5,106.26Canadian dollar 1 6,045.

Toba-Samosir on long road to industrialization

Toba-Samosir on long road to industrializationRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Balige, North Sumatra Toba-Samosir, an economically less developed new regency in North Sumatra whose population mostly lives in poverty, has no other alternative than to develop agriculture and tourism to catch up...

West Sumatra's unique form of administration

West Sumatra's unique form of administration Nagari, an administrative system equal to the kelurahan (village) in other provinces, is unique to West Sumatra. The territory of a nagari consists of several jorong or desa (sub-villages) and is headed by a Kepala Nagari or Wali Nagari, who must run for...

Attention:

Attention: PLN-CimanggisFrom Koran TempoThe power supply in Harjamukti village, Cimanggis, Depok, is subject to frequent blackouts, particularly during thunderstorms. On Dec. 26, 2002, for instance, there was a blackout from 4 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Wages raised across the country, overtaken by rising living cost

Wages raised across the country, overtaken by rising living costZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minimum wages had increased nationwide by between 5.3 percent and 28.79 percent as of Jan. 1, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration said Tuesday.

Violence erupts as street demonstrations heighten

Violence erupts as street demonstrations heightenThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Street demonstrations against recent hikes in fuel, telephone and electricity charges became violent in several cities on the second day of protests Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators across the country mounted pressure...

Maluku to repatriate thousands of refugees soon

Maluku to repatriate thousands of refugees soonThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Maluku administration said on Tuesday that it would this year send home as many as 3,000 families of around 165,000 refugees still stuck in camps in and around Ambon city following four years of sectarian violence in the...

PDI-P to summon dissenters

PDI-P to summon dissenters JAKARTA: The central executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan) will summon party legislators opposing the government's decision to raise utility prices.

Indonesia declares itself polio-free

Indonesia declares itself polio-freeM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia, keeping up with other countries in the region in combating the deadly disease, declared on Tuesday that it was a polio-free nation and will receive certification of this status from the World Health...

Paper industry accused of rights abuses

Paper industry accused of rights abusesAgencies, New York/Jakarta Indonesia's booming paper industry is responsible for widespread attacks on indigenous communities in Sumatra, said a Human Rights Watch report released Monday.

Flood canal construction still uncertain: Minister

Flood canal construction still uncertain: MinisterBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The construction of the East Flood Canal could be delayed indefinitely as the central government reiterated on Tuesday that it had not found the funds necessary to construct the 23- kilometer canal...

Dayaks told to welcome Madurese

Dayaks told to welcome Madurese SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan: Regent Wahyudi K. Anwar of East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, has appealed to the indigenous Dayak people to accept Madurese migrants wanting to return to the town.

Drivers in Bekasi go on strike

Drivers in Bekasi go on strike BEKASI: At least 100 drivers of public transportation vehicles plying the Bekasi to Cikarang route staged on Tuesday a mass strike to urge the government to revoke the recent hike in fuel prices, especially diesel fuel.

PDI-P dismisses members over gubernatorial election

PDI-P dismisses members over gubernatorial electionFabiola Desy Unidjaja and Oyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bandarlampung In another show of deep cracks within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), five functionaries in Lampung have been dismissed from their posts...

Economy grows by 3.6 percent in 2002: Govt

Economy grows by 3.6 percent in 2002: GovtThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The economy grew 3.6 percent last year, slower than the government's target of 4 percent, according to a preliminary estimate released by the Ministry of Finance.

TNI to build post on Patek Island

TNI to build post on Patek IslandYemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara In the wake of the country's defeat in a territorial dispute over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan, the Indonesian Military (TNI) plans to build a security post and place its personnel on the remote...

Don't lose more islands

Don't lose more islandsFrom Media IndonesiaMy heart broke to learn that, whatever the reasons, Indonesia had lost East Timor. And I found it strange that Abdurrahman Wahid -- when he was president -- changed the name of Irian Jaya to Papua, a phenomenon that I believe has the potential to cause...

JP/7/LETS97

JP/7/LETS97Restless Bali All this started on Dec. 11, 2002, when returning to Jakarta after celebrating Idul Fitri with my family in Malang, East Java, I visited Bali for a couple of days and decided to take a railway trip by executive class Mutiara Timur to see East Java's scenery.

* Headlines: JSC sends more monitoring team members3

* Headlines: JSC sends more monitoring team members3 * National:AGO detains whistleblower Kito 4 * Archipelago: Maluku to repatriate thousands of refugees5 * Opinion: West Sumatra reinvents its original roots 7 * City: Administration ready to anticipate floods 8 * Sports: Masuoka takes Dakar Rally...

PLN defends policy on electricity rate hike

PLN defends policy on electricity rate hikeA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State electricity company PT PLN asserted on Tuesday that an increase in electricity charges was badly needed to spur investment in the power sector.

AGO detains another whistleblower

AGO detains another whistleblowerTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The move to eradicate corruption in the country has received a big blow as another whistleblower was detained Monday, pending his trial for alleged fraud.

NGO, cement company face possible court battle

NGO, cement company face possible court battleArya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Non-governmental organization Monopoly Watch, and Lubis, Santosa and Maulana lawyers could end up in a civil lawsuit over the former's refusal to retract its report of complaint to the Business Competition...

Stand up for 'wong cilik'

Stand up for 'wong cilik' Is anyone up there in the government still defending and fighting for the wong cilik, the Javanese term Indonesian politicians fondly use to refer to the little people?President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), are...

Explosion kills jogger in Sawangan

Explosion kills jogger in Sawangan JAKARTA: A man was killed and another was injured by a strong blast from a package believed to contain firecrackers that had been abandoned near Jl. Patria Land in Sawangan, Depok, on Monday morning.

Foreign, domestic investments plunged sharply in 2002

Foreign, domestic investments plunged sharply in 2002Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals plummeted by 35 percent to US$9.7 billion last year from $15.06 billion in 2001, said the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) in a media statement.

Teachers get greeting cards from Amien

Teachers get greeting cards from Amien JAMBI, Sumatra: A number of high school teachers here have expressed appreciation to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais for sending them Idul Fitri greeting cards.

Price hikes may force drugmakers to relocate

Price hikes may force drugmakers to relocateRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Companies producing pharmaceuticals in Indonesia may be forced to relocate to Thailand to cut costs following the utility price increases, the Indonesian Pharmaceutical Federation (GPFI) says.

Never pass judgment without evidence

Never pass judgment without evidence The Dec. 28 shooting of Else Bonay Rumbiak, the wife of the director of the Human Rights Advocacy Study Institute (Elsham), Johanis Rumbiak, by an unknown gunman in Papua has given rise to rumors about the perpetrators, and recent accusations of the...

Eliminating subsidies, convincing the public

Eliminating subsidies, convincing the publicDavid Sumual, Danareksa Research Institute, Jakarta Hikes in administered prices leading to student demonstrations, higher transportation fares, higher prices of consumer goods, and possible labor strikes.

1. Sumual -- Eliminating subsidies,

1. Sumual -- Eliminating subsidies, convincing the public 2. ASEAN -- ASEAN cooperation with China entails benefits and hard work

Illegal loggers sent to court

Illegal loggers sent to court MANOKWARI, Papua: Police here have transferred two suspected thieves accused of stealing dozens of cubic meters of logs to the district prosecutor's office, so that prosecutors may prepare charges against them.Manokwari detective police chief Adj. Comr. John C.E.

Megawati and 'wong cilik'

Megawati and 'wong cilik' Is anyone up there in the government still defending and fighting for the wong cilik, the Javanese words Indonesian politicians fondly used to refer to the little people?President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), are...

East Java government earmarks Rp 115b for disaster control

East Java government earmarks Rp 115b for disaster controlAinur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya The East Java administration has allocated Rp 115 billion (US$ 12.9 million) to prepare for and respond to natural disasters in the province during the rainy season.

Flyovers or

Flyovers or underpasses needed From Warta Kota The TB Simatupang outer ring road may solve the traffic jams in several spots in South Jakarta. Actually, neither the toll road or the artery roads are too crowded, except in areas close to an intersection.

U.S. stimulus plan buoys dollar

U.S. stimulus plan buoys dollarDow Jones, Singapore The dollar advanced against most Southeast Asian currencies Tuesday, but slipped against the South Korean won and New Taiwan dollar.Expectations that a new economic stimulus program in the U.S.

'Fare hike will cause spats with passengers'

'Fare hike will cause spats with passengers' The public transportation drivers complain about the difficult life as they are greatly affected by the fuel price hike. Some of them shared their feelings with The Jakarta Post.

Presidential candidates must declare assets: NGOs

Presidential candidates must declare assets: NGOsKurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post JakartaCoordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) Teten Masduki and senior member of the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) Hadar N.

West Sumatra reinvents its original roots

West Sumatra reinvents its original rootsArdimas Sasdi, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, ardimas@thejakartapost.com Each province responds in a different way to the reform movement that evolved four years ago and led to the implementation of regional autonomy on Jan. 5, 2001.

ASEAN cooperation with China entails benefits and hard work

ASEAN cooperation with China entails benefits and hard workShang Qianhong, Associate Research Fellow Institute of Contemporary International Relations, China Daily, Asia News Network, Beijing Last year was the best yet for economic cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations...

Birth certificate fees

Birth certificate fees From Warta Kota North Jakarta municipality head, Soebagio, has often said he would dump into a garbage bin all praise but will treasure criticism about the municipality administration's performance.

checked

checkedMagical ancient wonders and scenic panoramas await visitors to Slemen regency Recreational tours do not merely consist of beautiful sights, shopping or doing things outside your daily routine. This is especially true if you happen to be a real nature lover.

YLKI refuses to join team to discuss bus fare increase

YLKI refuses to join team to discuss bus fare increaseAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration decided on Tuesday to form a team to discuss bus fare increases following the recent fuel price rises.

JSC sends more monitors as GAM vows to pursue peace

JSC sends more monitors as GAM vows to pursue peaceNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh Eighteen more members of the team monitoring the cease-fire agreement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were sent to Aceh on Tuesday, while a GAM spokesman said the secessionist group had held a meeting in...

Transportation strike in Jakarta unlikely

Transportation strike in Jakarta unlikelyEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Agus, a minibus driver who works out of the Kampung Rambutan bus station in East Jakarta, is in a somber mood: his income has fallen to Rp 15,000 a day due to the recent increase in the price of diesel fuel.

Workers join protest against R&D policy

Workers join protest against R&D policyBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several labor unions representing thousands of workers from both private and state companies joined protests against releasing debtors from possible criminal charges, saying that they might resort to a nationwide...

S'porean takes daughter from school

S'porean takes daughter from school SINGAPORE: The parents of an 11-year-old girl who was told to leave school for wearing a banned traditional Islamic headscarf said on Tuesday they would educate her at home in protest against the Singaporean government.

The story of Amien Rais

The story of Amien Rais Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais is an Islamic figure, an intellectual and a politician who is clever at making political maneuvers. He is indeed shrewd.

Indef predicts higher inflation, slower growth

Indef predicts higher inflation, slower growthThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The increases in the prices of fuel products, electricity and telephone charges will boost inflation to around 11.8 percent this year, and slow economic growth to 3.

Angie is high about Loit game: Coach

Angie is high about Loit game: CoachMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Angelique Widjaja of Indonesia feels confident about besting Emilie Loit in the second round of the Canberra Classic women's tennis tournament, coach Deddy Tedjamukti said on Tuesday.

MAS eyes six A380 mega-jumbos

MAS eyes six A380 mega-jumbos KUALA LUMPUR: The parent company of flag carrier Malaysia Airlines is in talks with the European Airbus consortium to acquire at least six A380 superjumbo aircraft, a report said Tuesday.The deal could cost Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd. (PMB) between US$1 billion and $1.