Archive: 28 February 2004
Showing 1-50 of 82 articles
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Over 2,000 voter ID cards misprinted
Over 2,000 voter ID cards misprinted PURBALINGGA, Central Java: Aside from the late arrival of ballot boxes, printing errors are another problem that may hamper preparations for the upcoming general elections in the regions. Over 2,000 Voter Identity Cards (KIP) were misprinted here in Purbalingga, so that Purbalingga regency's General Elections Commission (KPUD) had to return the cards to printing company PT Pura Barutama in Kudus municipality for correction.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Doubt lingers on role of transportation council
Doubt lingers on role of transportation council M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As the May deadline for the establishment of a bylaw-sanctioned City Transportation Council is nearing, public transportation operators and urban activists are concerned that the council would not be effective in resolving Jakarta's traffic problems. Member of the Association of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) Gogo Manurung argued on Friday that Bylaw No.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Ambassadors, donors to visit Maluku
Ambassadors, donors to visit Maluku AMBON, Maluku: Ambon mayor Papilaja stated on Friday that ambassadors and representatives from international organizations would visit the city of Ambon early in March. They included the ambassadors from the Netherlands, South Korea and Russia to Indonesia. In the two-day visit from March. 1, the ambassadors and representatives would be able to observe Maluku in the aftermath of bloody sectarian conflict in the province that killed dozens thousands of people.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Stocks unlikely to move up in coming week: Analyst
Stocks unlikely to move up in coming week: Analyst Agence France-Presse, Jakarta The Jakarta stock market is unlikely to recover lost ground in the coming week after slumping more than four percent in the past week, an analyst said on Friday. Kuo Capital Raharja Securities analyst Edwin Sinaga said he expected the market to move sideways in the coming week due to concerns about possible violence before the start of election campaigning on March 11.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
IBRA closes, leaves huge tasks behind
IBRA closes, leaves huge tasks behind Dadan Wijaksana and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Most people perceive that messy legal cases and the massive cost of the late 1990's banking crisis are the legacy of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, which the government officially dissolved on Friday. While the agency was praised for reaching its fiscal target, questions remain over whether this feat was worthwhile considering the huge price that taxpayers must shoulder.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
In Jakarta, even the dead can't rest in peace
In Jakarta, even the dead can't rest in peace Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In funeral services, preachers often say, "May he rest in peace". But you can't take that on face value if you are a Jakarta resident. Indonesia has been regularly categorized by international rating's agencies as one of world's most corrupt nations.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
100,000 to exercise at Monas
100,000 to exercise at Monas JAKARTA: The Community Sports Federation of Indonesia (FOMI) is to hold an exercise session en masse that it anticipates will involve 75,000 to 100,000 people at the National Monument (Monas) on March 7, according to FOMI chairman Datuk Hakim Tantawi. Besides casual exercise enthusiasts, the participants will be made up of those from political parties, the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Herbal medicine modernized
Herbal medicine modernized SEMARANG: The government urged producers of traditional herbal medicines on Friday to modernize their production process to meet quality standards. "If we don't want to be ignored by our customers, we should modernize our production process," Deputy chairman of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) Ruslan Aspan said after inaugurating the multipurpose headquarters of PT Nyonya Meneer herbal medicine firm.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Schools need US$159m in loans
Schools need US$159m in loans JAKARTA: The Ministry of National Education is seeking soft loans of up to US$150 million to finance the development of vocational schools across the country. "The loans are meant to finance vocational education across the country in 2005, because we do not have enough money to support the program," Indra was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Kimia Farma net profit up by 30 %
Kimia Farma net profit up by 30 % The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma recorded a 30 percent increase in net profit last year due to higher sales. The net profit climbed to Rp 46.2 billion (US$5.47 million) last year from Rp 35.4 billion in 2002, company president Gunawan Pranoto said in a statement to the Jakarta Stock Exchange on Friday.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Paper donates 10,000 teak saplings
Paper donates 10,000 teak saplings BOGOR: The Radar Bogor newspaper donated 10,000 teak saplings on Friday and planted them around the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) campus in Dermaga, Bogor, and along the Cihideung River. The general manager of the daily, Hazairin Sitepu, said the saplings, which cost Rp 150 million (US$17,857) in total, were imported from Thailand. "From the time these saplings are planted today, a monitoring team from the IPB will observe their growth," Hazairin said.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Party opens hot line for blood donors
Party opens hot line for blood donors YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta chapter of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) opened a 24-hour hot line on Feb. 25 for blood donors. The hot line was opened in order to help collect blood for victims of the dengue fever outbreak. "Families can contact us directly and provide a letter verifying that a family member is suffering from dengue fever.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
No plan to revive rights of ex-PKI cadres
No plan to revive rights of ex-PKI cadres Indra Harsaputra and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya The historic verdict by the Constitutional Court to scrap a ruling which prohibits former members of the outlawed Indonesia Communist Party (PKI), or their relatives, from contesting in April's legislative election has not moved the government to dismantle decades-long discriminatory rulings against them, a minister pointed out on Friday.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
SMPN 56 students, teachers seek rights protection
SMPN 56 students, teachers seek rights protection Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Students, parents and teachers of the SMPN 56 state junior high school opposing a controversial property deal sought protection from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Friday, the day they were supposed to be evicted.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Consumer confidence rises to 15-month high
Consumer confidence rises to 15-month high Bloomberg, Jakarta Indonesia's consumer confidence in January reached a 15-month record, as people in rural areas expect more income during the elections, a survey showed. A key gauge measuring consumer confidence gained to 97.7 last month, the highest since October 2002, analysts Stefanus Susanto and David Sumual of Danareksa Research Institute, which commissioned the AC Nielsen study, said in a report. It was 94 in December.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines: Quality schools way beyond the poor's reach 3
* Headlines: Quality schools way beyond the poor's reach 3 * National: More police for conflict areas during polls 4 * Archipelago: Tribal leaders demand UN probe Theys' murder 5 * Opinion: Tolerance should be priority in schools 7 * City: Jumantik squad have a tough task 8 * Sports: Louis Saha set for Fulham return 10 * World: N. Korea nuke talks plagued by contradictions 11 * Business: Consumer confidence rises to 15-month high 13 * Features: Anton Moeliono, Bahasa Indonesia's vanguard 20
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
'Jumantik' have a tough task
'Jumantik' have a tough task Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "When is our turn for fogging, Bu?," Sartono, who lives in a neighborhood unit of Palmerah subdistrict, West Jakarta, asked jumantik officer Ibu Budiono when she visited his house on Friday. That was the first day of work for Ibu Budiono as an officer appointed to disseminate information on dengue fever and make door-to-door checks on whether residents had taken precautionary measures. Smilingly, the lady replied: "Soon ...
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
More police personnel sent to conflict area during polls
More police personnel sent to conflict area during polls Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post Jakarta The National Police have deployed over 7,000 reinforcement personnel to three conflict-prone areas to help the existing forces there maintain security and order, prior to and during the elections.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Up for election
Up for election Along with voting for political parties and legislative candidates in the House of Representatives (DPR) and City/Regency Council (DPRD) on April 5, voters will also pick candidates for the new Regional Representatives Council (DPD). The DPD will have four members from each of the 32 provinces and, together with the 550 elected DPR members, will make up the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Tolerance should be a priority in schools
Tolerance should be a priority in schools Simon Marcus Gower, Executive Principal, High/Scope Indonesia School, Jakarta It is rare indeed that education and the world of school systems makes international headlines but recently, there can be little doubt that, the French system of education has gained renown the world over. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to state that a certain amount of infamy has been achieved.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Interests, not platforms behind coalitions: Experts
Interests, not platforms behind coalitions: Experts Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Having seen the current pre-election political maneuverings in the country, nobody would argue the classic adage in politics "There are no perpetual enemies, only interests".
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Schools remain out-of-reach for the poor
Schools remain out-of-reach for the poor Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The start of the academic year is four months away, but schools in Jakarta -- including kindergartens, high schools, state and private schools -- are already advertising in the media. The BPK Penabur Christian High School 1 in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, opened its early admissions program in January.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
TKI must have medical checkups, says minister
TKI must have medical checkups, says minister The Jakarta Post, Jakarta All workers seeking employment overseas must now undergo medical checkups in authorized clinics before their departure to avoid future health problems, the minister in charge of worker migration said. "All workers must be considered healthy before they leave and any who have contracted potentially fatal diseases must not be sent overseas.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Bantul administration buys crops
Bantul administration buys crops YOGYAKARTA: The Bantul regency administration has set aside Rp 45 million to buy corn from farmers in order to offset an expected surplus in the coming harvest. The program began on Thursday with farmers in Pajangan district, which has more than 100 hectares of corn fields. The corn harvest in the district is expected to be at least 100 tons. Official Edy Suharyanto said the crop surplus had caused a sharp drop in corn prices.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Sebuku mining resumes activities
Sebuku mining resumes activities JAKARTA: The Indonesian coal-mining unit of Australia's Straits Resources said on Friday it was able to resume full operations at its site in East Kalimantan Wednesday after agreeing to grant more funds for community development. More than a hundred people blocked access to PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku's mining site from Feb.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/CARD
JP/5/CARD Over 2,000 voter ID cards misprinted PURBALINGGA, Central Java: Aside from the late arrival of ballot boxes, printing errors are another problem that may hamper preparations for the upcoming general elections in the regions. Over 2,000 Voter Identity Cards (KIP) were misprinted here in Purbalingga, so that Purbalingga regency's General Elections Commission (KPUD) had to return the cards to printing company PT Pura Barutama in Kudus municipality for correction.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Police to summon officials over councillor's alleged graft
Police to summon officials over councillor's alleged graft Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta Police will summon officials from the Jakarta Public Works Agency as witnesses in a Rp 1.3 billion (US$154,762) alleged graft case involving city councillor Maringan Pangaribuan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in January. "We had received the reports earlier this month but we must check if it is really a graft case.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Stamping out corruption
Stamping out corruption From Republika The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has done its job well enough and has reported its findings to relevant government agencies for follow-up measures. Now that there are intensified efforts to eradicate corruption, spearheaded particularly by university students and several other organizations, it is imperative that these BPK findings be followed up. As long as there is widespread corruption it will be almost impossible to develop this country.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
BI wants banks to lend more to SMEs
BI wants banks to lend more to SMEs The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Bank Indonesia will push the country's banking sector to allocate a greater amount in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) this year as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth, a top official has said. "We'll ask the banks to allocate a greater amount of loans (to the SME sector) this year.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
IBRA severance pay totals Rp 237b
IBRA severance pay totals Rp 237b The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has decided to provide less severance pay for the 2,500 employees of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). Agency chairman Syafruddin Temenggung told a press conference on Friday that the severance pay totaled Rp 237 billion (US$28.21 million), around half the Rp 500 billion figure previously reported by the press.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
TV Today: Saturday, February 28, 2004
TV Today: Saturday, February 28, 2004 TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:30 Cartoon 10:00 TV Drama: Si Kabayan 11:30 Battle of Wits 12:30 p.m. Children Show 1:00 News: Berita Siang 1:30 Health 2:30 English News Service 3:00 Music 3:30 City News 4:00 Film 7:00 News 8:00 TV Series 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Comedy 10:00 Indonesian Film 12:00 a.m. Shadow Puppet TPI 6:00 a.m.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Six judges eye two deputy chief posts
Six judges eye two deputy chief posts Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Six judges in the Supreme Court were nominated on Friday to take up two deputy posts that have been vacant for over a year after a preliminary vote by 37 justices at the court here. The internal election was the first of its kind following the revision of the Supreme Court law. Prior to the revision, the president appointed Supreme Court judges, including the chief justice. Law No.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing
Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With only 37 days before the legislative election, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is still facing huge problems in completing the films for ballot paper printing. KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Friday that 69 ballot paper films for the House of Representatives had already gone to print.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
3-in-1 bothersome
3-in-1 bothersome From Bisnis Indonesia The Jakarta administration is now enforcing its three-in-one policy that requires cars to carry a minimum of three passengers to be able to pass certain streets during certain hours of the morning and afternoon. I have had an annoying experience regarding this policy. It is understood that the slow lane from Jl. Gatot Subroto toward Jl. Jend.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Regreening what?
Regreening what? The "unplanned" felling of trees along Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Jakarta has come as yet another shock to those who believe that this polluted city needs more trees. Worse, the decision to cut the trees was apparently made after the administration admitted that the sacrificing of fast lanes to make space for the special busway lanes has left some of Jakarta's busiest thoroughfares too narrow to accommodate traffic.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
'Restoring rights is evidence of democracy'
'Restoring rights is evidence of democracy' The reinstatement of part of the civil rights of former members of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and their relatives enables them to participate in the national elections for the first time since their rights were denied by the state in 1966. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their thoughts on the issue. Constan Hartoto, 30, is head of procurements at an air- conditioning assembly firm.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Losari: Coffee, trains and nostalgia
Losari: Coffee, trains and nostalgia Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java If you want to sip real coffee, you should go to Losari, an old coffee plantation in Magelang, a coffee aficionado friend of mine told me. He was right. One dusk, after a 90-minute drive from Yogyakarta, we were enjoying the fresh and strong robusta coffee, which immediately charged and energized our tired minds and bodies.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
More than 100 missing, one dead in RP ferry fire
More than 100 missing, one dead in RP ferry fire Agence France-Presse, Manila More than 100 people were missing and at least one was confirmed dead after an explosion triggered a fire on a Philippine ferry before dawn on Friday, the coast guard said. The 10,192-ton Superferry 14, carrying almost 900 passengers, had just left Manila for the central Philippines when the accident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. (midnight in Jakarta), the coast guard said.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
On cable connection
On cable connection I am a brand new customer of Indosat's broadband cable connection for Internet access. This costs Rp 300,000, plus VAT, per month. However, I was informed that this monthly charge will increase to Rp 550,000, plus VAT. According to the letter I received from Indosat, this 60 percent increase is because "Kabelvision wants to provide a better quality cable connection service".
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
2004 general election: Civilian nationalism versus military
2004 general election: Civilian nationalism versus military nationalism Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, Civil Society Alliance for Democracy (Yappika), Jakarta The political dynamics in 2004 are accelerating as the general election nears. Political observers link this phenomenon to the fact that the process of the 2004 general election is of much greater complexity than that of the 1999 elections. This great complexity, unfortunately, is yet to be coupled with well thought out preparation.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Supreme Court justices should go
Supreme Court justices should go From Koran Tempo The Supreme Court has pronounced its decision, which is final, in spite of wider arguments for and against it. Students protesting the decision should not be mistaken when voicing their demands. They should urge that the People's Consultative Assembly issue a decree on early retirement of judges.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Investors eye natural gas distribution business
Investors eye natural gas distribution business Fitri Wulandari The Jakarta Post Jakarta Malaysia's state energy company Petronas is one of many investors interested in entering the natural gas distribution sector in this country, a senior official said. Tubagus Haryono, the head of Oil and Gas Downstream Regulatory Body (BPH Migas), which oversees oil and gas refining activities, said Petronas representatives had informal talks with the agency about entering the business.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Sosrowijayan, present and past
Sosrowijayan, present and past Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta "Mister, Mister, cheap room in Sosrowijayan, Mister! Only Rp 15,000, follow me!" a teenage boy in flip-flops said in pidgin English to a backpacker at the Tugu railway station one afternoon. The young male tourist, who had just got off a Jakarta train, listened to the boy attentively and curiously -- either for not understanding the offer or for the amazement over the cheap price mentioned.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Shipment of illegal coal foiled
Shipment of illegal coal foiled SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Staff at East Kalimantan mining and energy office have, within the past week, confiscated two containers, each with 40 tons of coal, at Samarinda seaport. The coal, due to be taken to Surabaya, was confiscated as there was no proper documentation for it. "The coal was illegally mined in several areas of the province," head of the office Masrihadi said on Friday.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
After the 2004 election babble: Then what?
After the 2004 election babble: Then what? Max Lane, Visiting Fellow, Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA, Australia, m.lane@murdoch.edu.au Elwin Tobing's article The Elections: Substance or Babble? in The Jakarta Post, Feb. 25, presented a critique of the political elite's approach to the general elections that went to the central question.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Officer schools to be reduced
Officer schools to be reduced JAKARTA: Minister of National Education Malik Fadjar said on Friday that his office would reduce the number of state-sponsored schools especially designed to educate state officials. He said the move was being made as the structure of government administration would be streamlined in the future. Malik, however, said the government would maintain the schools for Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police officers.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
The closing of IBRA: Major events (1998-2004)
The closing of IBRA: Major events (1998-2004) 1998: * IBRA's leadership changes hands three times, from Bambang Subianto, Iwan Prawiranata to Glenn Yusuf * 38 closed and ailing banks are placed under the care of IBRA * 39 large debtors sign an agreement to repay debts amounting to Rp 111.6 trillion 1999: * The Bank Bali scandal flares up, which eventually helps foil the reelection of BJ Habibie as the country's president 2000: * Cacuk Sudarijanto replaces Glenn, before being replaced by Edwin...
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
AGO dismisses report of rife fund abuses
AGO dismisses report of rife fund abuses Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Attorney General's Office (AGO) rejected on Friday the audit of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that named the law enforcement institution as the country's leading state money abuser, saying that the audit had been performed only at several prosecutor's offices.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Surya awarded win as top three march to Cigna semifinals
Surya awarded win as top three march to Cigna semifinals Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Top national players dominated the US$11,800 Cigna Open tennis tournament as they advanced to the semifinals after Friday's quarterfinals at the Jakarta Hilton International Executive Club. Saturday's semifinals will see top seed Hendri Susilo Pramono challenged by third seed Sebastian Dacosta, and a match between second seed Suwandi and Surya Wijaya.
Sat, 28 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Eat-chicken campaign continues
Eat-chicken campaign continues JAKARTA: Hundreds of students, officials and poultry breeders gathered at the office of the East Jakarta municipal administration on Friday morning to partake in various chicken dishes, an event held as part of the campaign to promote chicken after the recent bird-flu scare. A similar event was hosted by the Bogor Agriculture Institute, with students and residents invited to dine on chicken in the campus' Grawida hall in Bogor.