Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 29 July 2003

91 articles found

IBRA sells 17.5% Bank Danamon stake

IBRA sells 17.5% Bank Danamon stakeThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said on Monday it had sold a 17.5 percent stake in publicly listed Bank Danamon at Rp 1,325 per share, and would press ahead with the planned divestment of other banks.

Hero's profit plunges by 82%

Hero's profit plunges by 82%Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One of the country's largest retailers, PT Hero Supermarket, announced on Monday that during the first semester of this year its net profit plunged by 82 percent as compared to the same period last year, in spite of an increase...

JSX requests for tax incentive

JSX requests for tax incentiveThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The management of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) has asked the Directorate General of Taxation to provide tax incentives to publicly-listed companies.

Govt set to revise autonomy law

Govt set to revise autonomy law A'an Suryana The Jakarta Post JakartaThe government is set to revise the 1999 Law No. 22 on regional governments punctuating two years of fiery public debate.The election of heads of regional governments, however, will be a contentious issue, according to Progo...

he government decided on Monday not to renew the existing

he government decided on Monday not to renew the existing International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic bailout program when it expires at the end of this year, but the IMF is still to monitor the country's economic reform program via a post-program monitoring (PPM) arrangement.

Workers protest factory's closure

Workers protest factory's closure TANGERANG: Hundreds of workers from aluminum melting factory PT Teguh Makmur Sentosa in Benda district rallied at the mayoralty office on Monday, demanding that the administration cancel plans to close the factory for damaging the environment.

Arroyo more reliant on military powers after mutiny: Analysts

Arroyo more reliant on military powers after mutiny: AnalystsCecil Morella, Agence France-Presse, Manila The failed mutiny in the Philippines has highlighted how President Gloria Arroyo's political future is inextricably linked with the armed forces leaders who brought her to power, analysts said...

Nigerian given life sentence

Nigerian given life sentence BOGOR: Nigerian Jhon Sebastian was sentenced to life imprisonment by presiding judge Eka Budi Prijanta after being found guilty of distributing and selling 300 grams of heroin at Cibinong district court, Bogor, on Monday.

JP/4/SCENE

JP/4/SCENEMegawati to go to KL, BangkokJAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to embark on another overseas trip later next month, to discuss various bilateral issues with Malaysia and Thailand.

Inspirational Stovia amazes youngsters

Inspirational Stovia amazes youngstersZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Stovia building is still inspiring people after all these years. In the Dutch colonial era, the building was a medical school that produced numerous doctors, as well as nationalist leaders.The building on Jl.

he government decided on Monday not to renew the existing

he government decided on Monday not to renew the existing International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic bailout program when it expires at the end of this year, but the IMF is still to monitor the country's economic reform program via a post-program monitoring (PPM) arrangement.

Wiranto for

Wiranto for president?From Koran Tempo Small parties obtaining 3 percent of the vote in the general elections may nominate their presidential candidates.As a result, they can easily nominate someone as a presidential candidate regardless of their track record.

Profit from Astra's palm oil unit soars by 60.5%

Profit from Astra's palm oil unit soars by 60.5%Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia's largest crude palm oil (CPO) producer PT Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) has announced that its net profit for the first semester of this year skyrocketed by 60.

Government set to revise regional autonomy law

Government set to revise regional autonomy lawA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is set to revise the 1999 Law No. 22 on regional governments punctuating two years of fiery public debate.

Megawati to go to KL, Bangkok

Megawati to go to KL, Bangkok JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to embark on another overseas trip later next month to discuss various bilateral issues with neighboring countries Malaysia and Thailand.

Masterminds of the abortive coup

Masterminds of the abortive coupPhilippine Daily Inquirer, Asia News Network, Manila Both Malacanang and Camp Aguinaldo have sounded the alarm over the involvement of certain politicians, with Interior Secretary Joey Lina even naming ex-coup leader and now opposition senator Gringo Honasan. Even Lt.

Juniors vie for overseas sponsors at Hemaviton Tennis Challenge

Juniors vie for overseas sponsors at Hemaviton Tennis ChallengeArya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta More than 250 athletes will take part in the second series of the Hemaviton Junior Tennis Challenge in Surabaya, East Java, from Aug. 18 to Aug. 24.

Mutiny causes fall in RP stocks, currency

Mutiny causes fall in RP stocks, currencyMartin Abbugao, Agence France-Presse, Manila Investor confidence in Philippines took a hit on Monday in response to the failed military uprising in the heart of Manila's financial district, with both the stock market and currency falling.

JP/6/OTH29

JP/6/OTH29Economic subversion Smuggling has become one of the biggest enemies of the Indonesian economy. Viewed as a kind of economic crime, smuggling has become rampant. The authorities, however, have tended to ignore it.

ASEAN proposes quiet diplomacy to release Suu Kyi

ASEAN proposes quiet diplomacy to release Suu KyiFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Indonesia, as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is set to engage in quiet diplomacy to defuse the ongoing stand-off in Myanmar, foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

Illegal loggers turn to ecotourism

Illegal loggers turn to ecotourismApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra For a great many years, illegal logging became the main source of livelihood for people in the vicinity of Tangkahan forest in Namo Sialang and Sungai Serdang, North Sumatra.

ADB extends Rp 15b in aid to Poso

ADB extends Rp 15b in aid to Poso POSO, Central Sulawesi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed a Rp 15 billion loan for a rural development project in Poso district, Central Sulawesi province.The project aimed to raise the income of rural people, particularly economically weak families, the...

1. INSIGHTS: 48 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42

1. INSIGHTS: 48 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42Mahathir's Myanmar policy not just empty rhetoric 2. MYANMAR: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 28 ASEAN proposes quiet diplomacy to release Aung San Suu Kyi 3. KL: 32 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 33 Asia need not fear China: Mahathir 4.

Need for strong

Need for strong Navy & Air Force From Forum KeadilanIndonesia's sovereignty should primarily be measured in terms of its ability to maintain the country's territorial land, sea and airspace. The recent maneuvers by U.S.

'Kidnappers are out of control and everywhere'

'Kidnappers are out of control and everywhere' The ongoing kidnapping and murder cases, allegedly involving two brothers, have caught the attention of the public. The fact the kidnappers have not only demanded a ransom but have also brutally raped and murdered some of their prey, have shocked the...

A partisan president

A partisan presidentmore self-explanatory: Should president be partisan? Meidyatama Suryodiningrat Analyst, Jakarta2. Pro -- Palestinian refugees and German expellers 1 X 30 Palestinian and German refugees Shlomo Avineri Professor of Political Science Hebrew University Jerusalem Project Syndicate3.

KL growth exceeds expectations

KL growth exceeds expectations KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's second-quarter economic growth has exceeded government expectations, central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said Monday. She did not reveal figures, however.

12,000 civil servants to lose positions

12,000 civil servants to lose positionsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Close to 12,000 civil servants across the country will lose their positions due to restructuring by the government early next year, the State Minister for Administrative Reform Feisal Tamin says.

Megawati to go to KL, Bangkok

Megawati to go to KL, Bangkok JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to embark on another overseas trip later next month, to discuss various bilateral issues with Malaysia and Thailand.There is not yet any fixed schedule for the visit with presidential palace officials saying that they...

Two fires in Jakarta, one killed

Two fires in Jakarta, one killed A maid died in one of two fires that burned down dozens of homes in two separate areas on Monday.In Manggarai Utara II, South Jakarta (see photo), witnesses said the fire stared in the home of Rasmat at around 1:30 a.m. in neighborhood unit 01/community unit 04.

90% of toxic waste dumped into environment: Researcher

90% of toxic waste dumped into environment: ResearcherMoch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post JakartaA researcher has warned people against the possible outbreak of minamata disease in Indonesia due to the poor management of toxic waste water from mercury-using chemical companies.

Artist Sudarso, 89, still paints beautiful Javanese women

Artist Sudarso, 89, still paints beautiful Javanese womenYusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta At 89-years-old, Sudarso is one of Indonesia's most senior painters but still enjoys an active studio practice.

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, July 29, 2003Performances* Music Concert, Ferry Curtis, Taman Budaya Jawa Barat (West Java Cultural Center), Jl. Bukit Dago Selatan no. 53 A (Tel. 022 2504912), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 2. * Poetry Reading Taman Budaya Jawa Barat (West Java Cultural Center), Jl.

More health funds needed for Aceh

More health funds needed for Aceh JAKARTA: The Ministry of Health is seeking Rp 70 billion in additional funds from the central government to finance medical programs in troubled Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

S&P maintains RP debt rating

S&P maintains RP debt rating SINGAPORE: Standard and Poors (S&P) said on Monday that it was maintaining its BB long-term sovereign debt rating for the Philippines despite the failed weekend mutiny against President Gloria Arroyo.

RI expects 2.58m tourists in H2

RI expects 2.58m tourists in H2The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Outbound travel in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to increase during the second semester, with Indonesia projected to receive 2.58 million tourists from its five biggest markets in the region, according to a report.

Mahathir's Myanmar policy not just empty rhetoric

Mahathir's Myanmar policy not just empty rhetoricBantarto Bandoro, Editor, The Indonesian Quarterly, Centre For Strategic And International Studies (CSIS) bandoro@csis.or.idCPF Luhulima, Senior Fellow, CSIS and Member, Eminent Person Group for Asean Vision 2020 Jakarta, luhulima@csis.or.

* Headlines: 'Asia needs not fear China' 3

* Headlines: 'Asia needs not fear China' 3 * National: 90% of toxic waste dumped into environment 4 * Archipelago: Cilacap begins free school, medical program 5 * Opinion: Should president be partisan? 6 * City: Mahathir supports monorail: Sutiyoso 8 * Sports: Unprecedented 5th world record for...

ASEAN and UN must work closely over Myanmar: Razali

ASEAN and UN must work closely over Myanmar: RazaliAgencies, Kuala Lumpur/Bangkok The United Nations' envoy on Myanmar said on Monday the global body should work closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to try to end a deadlock between Myanmar's military rulers and Aung San...

Pedophilic kiddnapping spree raises call for alert

Pedophilic kiddnapping spree raises call for alertThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Parents are warned to be extra careful in watching their children because the serial kidnappers, known as the Saputra brothers gang, are ingenious and most likely pedophiles.

Terminal land clearance to finish

Terminal land clearance to finish JAKARTA: East Jakarta Mayor Koesman Halim said on Sunday that the land clearance process for Pulo Gebang bus terminal was expected to be completed later this year.Construction would begin early next year, he said."There are still 1.

PPP FINISHED THIRD BEHIND PDI PERJUANGAN AND GOLKAR IN THE

PPP FINISHED THIRD BEHIND PDI PERJUANGAN AND GOLKAR IN THE 1999 general election.The presidential election bill endorsed earlier this month limits the number of parties allowed to field candidates in the JP/4/C15 the vote or 3 percent of the seats in the legislative election scheduled for April 5.

Key to better education system in Indonesia

Key to better education system in IndonesiaSayidiman Suryohadiprojo, Former Governor, National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), Jakarta Without the access to a high standard of education people are not able to lead the fulfilling lives they might otherwise have enjoyed.

PDI-P cadre withdraws bid for Bali governorship

PDI-P cadre withdraws bid for Bali governorshipI Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Anak Agung Ngurah Oka Ratmadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said on Monday he would not seek the governorship of Bali, after failing to win the backing of party...

'OPEC should maintain output'

'OPEC should maintain output' JAKARTA: Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, on Monday reiterated the country's stance that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries should vote to maintain its current production level at its meeting on Thursday in Vienna.

Utut likely to miss SEA Games

Utut likely to miss SEA GamesMusthofid The Jakarta Post JakartaGrand Master (GM) Utut Adianto is expected to miss the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December, which would put a dent in Indonesia's hopes for chess gold at the event.

MacDonald's stories break barriers

MacDonald's stories break barriersTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "Miaow, miaow, miaow, miaow, miaow," Margaret Read MacDonald mimicked, followed by hundreds of children who sat rapt listening to her story of The Spoiled Little Cat during the recent Storytelling Festival at Bentara...

Surgical separation considered for twins

Surgical separation considered for twins SURABAYA: Doctors here are considering at length the possibility of separating a pair of twins joined at the chest and stomach.They say the twins, who were born on Saturday to a poor family in the East Java capital of Surabaya, share two legs, one sex organ...

Eradicating corruption

Eradicating corruption I wish to comment on recent survey results from Berlin-based Transparency International saying that corruption in the courts should be the first thing to be resolved in Indonesia (The Jakarta Post, July 11).

Vendors ready for enactment of Copyright Law

Vendors ready for enactment of Copyright LawM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With Law No. 19/2002 on the protection of copyrights going into effect on July 29, Jakartans will likely have a more difficult time purchasing counterfeit goods over the next month as vendors close up shop to...

Mega prefers to hear bad news

Mega prefers to hear bad news JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri reminded government officials on Monday that in times like these, she would prefer to hear about negative, rather than positive, developments.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 28, 2003

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 28, 2003 ____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume _____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo...

Bodies of 6 of 13 missing passengers found

Bodies of 6 of 13 missing passengers found ENAROTALI, Papua: The bodies of six of 13 people who went missing after the engine of the boat they were traveling in on Wisel Lake blew up last Friday, were transferred to Aikai port here on Monday.

The Jakarta Post

The Jakarta Post JakartaOutbound traveling in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to rebound during the second semester, with Indonesia projected to receive 2.58 million tourists from its five biggest markets in the region, according to a report.

Govt retains IMF monitoring

Govt retains IMF monitoringThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government decided on Monday not to renew the existing International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic bailout program when it expires at the end of this year, but the IMF is still to monitor the country's economic reform program via a...

Asia need not fear China: Mahathir

Asia need not fear China: MahathirEileen Ng, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Asian nations need not fear China's growing military and economic power because it has no tradition of foreign conquest and its burgeoning market offers vast opportunities, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said...

Police say witnesses know killers of Asaba president

Police say witnesses know killers of Asaba presidentDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Police said on Monday that the testimony of two witnesses would identify the killers of a businessman and his bodyguard at the Sasana Krida sports stadium in North Jakarta on July 19.

Shuttlecock war hurts Olympic status

Shuttlecock war hurts Olympic statusRichard Eaton, Agence France-Presse, Birmingham, England One of the father figures of professional badminton has claimed that a battle of power between Europe and Asia is threatening the sport's Olympic status.

W. Kutai to open district hospital

W. Kutai to open district hospital SAMARINDA: The district of West Kutai will soon have their own hospital to provide health services for local people.Regent Rama Alexander Asia said they had set a target of Aug. 15 for the grand opening of the hospital.

AASROC a forum to learn from each other: Hassan

AASROC a forum to learn from each other: HassanFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Bandung The Asia Africa Sub-Regional Organization Conference (AASROC) seeks to identify problems of maintaining relations between two regions and finding a strategic partnership in the current world.

RI manuscripts face destruction: Expert

RI manuscripts face destruction: ExpertThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Most of Indonesia's ancient manuscripts kept by ordinary people may perish due to lack of awareness about manuscript conservation and the limited number of experts who could copy the written heritage, an expert says.

East Kalimantan to sue KPC, others

East Kalimantan to sue KPC, othersFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The East Kalimantan provincial administration is preparing a lawsuit against Rio Tinto, BP Plc, coal mining firm PT Kaltim Prima Coal and Bumi Resources in its bid to unveil possible shady deals behind the acquisition of...

Economic subversion

Economic subversion Smuggling has become one of the biggest enemies of the Indonesian economy.Termed as a kind of economic crime, smuggling has become rampant. The authorities however tend to ignore it.

Flying flags indicate success of Aceh mission

Flying flags indicate success of Aceh missionNani Farida and Teriani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe A House of Representatives delegation visited Aceh on Monday and was quick to judge the military operation in the province a success merely from the number of red and white...

C. Javanese should be wary of malaria

C. Javanese should be wary of malaria SEMARANG: Residents of Central Java province should be on the alert for malaria, following an outbreak in several districts, said head of the Central Java Health Office Krishnajaya.

Mahathir supports monorail: Sutiyoso

Mahathir supports monorail: SutiyosoBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Undeterred by criticism, Governor Sutiyoso claimed on Monday that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had expressed his support for Jakarta's plan to develop a monorail.

GM Utut Adianto likely to miss SEA Games in Vietnam

GM Utut Adianto likely to miss SEA Games in VietnamMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto is expected to miss the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December, which would put a dent in Indonesia's hopes for chess gold at the event.

On July and August of 2003, for the first time, 30-40 Swiss

On July and August of 2003, for the first time, 30-40 Swiss JP/17/P03 Paradise. These cows are carefully "made in Bali", but with "genes" brought in from Switzerland. A group of enthusiastic Balinese and Swiss citizens residing in Bali, the Swiss Cows in Bali committee has taken responsibility for...

Surgical separation considered for conjoined twins

Surgical separation considered for conjoined twins SURABAYA: Doctors here are considering at length the possibility of separating a pair of twins joined at the chest and stomach. They say the twins, who were born on Saturday to a poor family in the East Java capital of Surabaya, share two legs, one...

Press, GAM's

Press, GAM's next targetFrom Media IndonesiaThe Free Aceh Movement (GAM), apparently desperate, is shifting its target to the press, with many cases of attacks on journalists. Idrus Jeumpa from Medan's Waspada daily in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, is one of the victims of GAM's atrocities.

A partisan president

A partisan presidentMeidyatama Suryodiningrat, Journalist, Jakarta The office of the president, despite the corruption of its powers during the Sukarno and Soeharto eras, remains very much an icon of national sovereignty and dignity.

Court rejection hampers unraveling of 1998 riots

Court rejection hampers unraveling of 1998 riotsMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Attempts to unravel the May riots in 1998 suffered a severe blow on Monday when the Central Jakarta District Court rejected the request by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to...

Bowing to protests, Hari delays swearing in regent

Bowing to protests, Hari delays swearing in regentApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra Amid public protests, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno on Monday postponed installing Hengky Yusuf Wau as acting head for the new South Nias regency in North Sumatra.

U.S. should review aid policy for Indonesia

U.S. should review aid policy for Indonesia WASHINGTON: Indonesia's failure to cooperate in investigating the murders of two U.S. citizens in the Indonesian province of Papua should trigger a "fundamental change in approach" to the southeast Asian nation, U.S.

PDI Perjuangan considers maintaining Mega-Hamzah

PDI Perjuangan considers maintaining Mega-HamzahAndi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Sinjai, South Sulawesi The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is asking Vice President Hamzah Haz to maintain his partnership with the party's chairwoman President Megawati Soekarnoputri for the...

Death sentence sought for Samudra over Bali bombing

Death sentence sought for Samudra over Bali bombingWahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Prosecutors have requested that Imam Samudra, accused of masterminding and financing the Oct. 12, 2002 Bali bombings be sentenced to death.

Improper waste disposal a 'tragedy waiting to happen'

Improper waste disposal a 'tragedy waiting to happen'Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A researcher has warned people against the possible outbreak of minamata disease in Indonesia due to the poor management of toxic waste water from mercury-using chemical companies.

JP/4US

JP/4USU.S. should review aid policy for Indonesia Agence France Presse WashingtonIndonesia's failure to cooperate in investigating the murders of two U.S. citizens in the Indonesian province of Papua should trigger a "fundamental change in approach" to the southeast Asian nation, U.S.

TV Program: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

TV Program: Tuesday, July 29, 2003TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:00 English News Service9:00 Music11:00 News: Berita Daerah11:30 Music: Konteswara 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga 2:00 News: Metro Indonesia2:30 Music: Pop...

Siege of mall deals blow to Philippines

Siege of mall deals blow to Philippines What started as a festering but family feud between junior Philippines military officers and President Gloria Arroyo flew viciously out of control early yesterday morning.

2 x 11

2 x 11 PDI-P cadre withdraws bid for Bali governorship JP/5/nias2 x 25 Bowing to protests, Hari delays swearing in regent JP/5/Cilacap2 x 18 Cilacap begins free school-medical program JP/5/ugm1 x UGM to increase PhD graduates

Thousands of bureaucratic positions to be scrapped

Thousands of bureaucratic positions to be scrappedJAKARTA: The government will scrap about 12,400 bureaucratic positions across the country as part of bureaucratic reform under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates July 28 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 5,957.39 5,291.09 5,654.

Cilacap begins free school-medical program

Cilacap begins free school-medical programAgus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap, Central Java Entering the 2003/2004 academic year, the Cilacap regency administration has introduced a free education and medical program for students of state junior and senior high schools to make middle-level...

Singaporean held in harassment case

Singaporean held in harassment case BATAM, Riau: Police here are detaining a Singaporean national for allegedly sexually harassing a six-year-old girl on Batam island in Riau provinceThe suspect, identified only by his initials as A.A. bin S, has admitted the charges laid by the police.

UGM to increase PhD graduates

UGM to increase PhD graduatesSri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta In a bid to produce more holders of doctorate degrees (PhD) and make it a prominent research institution, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has applied a new regulation on final exams for doctoral candidates.

Thousands of govt jobs to go

Thousands of govt jobs to go JAKARTA: The government will scrap about 12,400 bureaucratic positions across the country as part of reforms under the Ministry of Home Affairs.Ministry spokesman I Nyoman Sumaryadi said the positions that would be eliminated included heads of office and their deputies...

'MPR annual session a waste of funds'

'MPR annual session a waste of funds'M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The upcoming Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has already lost its relevance and is nothing but a waste of state money, a political analyst says.

CSFB to underwrite PGN bond

CSFB to underwrite PGN bond JAKARTA: Indonesia's state-owned gas distribution company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, or PGN, has confirmed that it's chosen Credit Suisse First Boston to underwrite its proposed US$250 million 10-year bond.

Asian currencies up late, RP peso trims early losses

Asian currencies up late, RP peso trims early lossesDow Jones, Singapore The Philippine peso clawed out of intraday troughs Monday but remained at a four-month low following a failed mutiny over the weekend. But regional counterparts barely reacted to the incident.

Jakarta's cost of living soars, outranks KL, Bandar Seri Begawan

Jakarta's cost of living soars, outranks KL, Bandar Seri BegawanEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta is the second most expensive city in Southeast Asia, after Singapore, following a rise in living costs, according to the latest survey conducted by Economist magazine's research unit, the...