Archive: 28 February 2005
89 articles found
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Radar Timor' daily goes belly up
'Radar Timor' daily goes belly up KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The daily newspaper Radar Timor, owned by former governor of East Timor, Abilio Jose Osario Soares, was officially closed down on Friday due to financial problems. The newspaper, which started printing in 2000, had experienced severe financial management problems since last year.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Obstacles to peace remain in Aceh
Obstacles to peace remain in Aceh The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok The international community has welcomed the progress that the Indonesian government and the rebels in Aceh have made towards resolving their differences, as both sides have shown a willingness to be flexible and make necessary concessions in order to give the ongoing peace talks a real chance of success.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Government may OK audit agency in Aceh
Government may OK audit agency in Aceh Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One way of paying our respects to the more than 200,000 people who died or are still missing, and the nearly half a million others left homeless by the tsunami disaster in Aceh, is to ensure that every penny in aid is accounted for.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta is sinking fast, agency says
Jakarta is sinking fast, agency says Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The construction of high-rise buildings and the overexploitation of groundwater has caused the capital to sink by up to 100 centimeters over the past 12 years, according to an expert. Citing a joint study with PT Succonfindo, City Mining Agency head Haris Pindratno said over the weekend the sinkage would undermine any efforts to mitigate the flooding that has plagued the capital over the past few years.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Get rid of old buses
Get rid of old buses I'm happy to hear that the Jakarta governor, Bapak Sutiyoso, dreams about a green Jakarta. I'm only wondering why he doesn't take any action on the local bus system -- rotten old vehicles that pollute the air significantly and endanger citizens by the way they are being operated. If Sutiyoso is really serious about fighting for a better Jakarta, then he should really take care of those criminals. KARL DELBRUECK, Jakarta
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Councillors have already forgotten us'
'Councillors have already forgotten us' Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has "set" the housing allowance for the City Council: Rp 15 million (US$1,650) a month for councillors and Rp 20 million for its leaders. The Jakarta Post interviewed some folks to get their comments on such seeming extravagance. Afrizon, 43, a trader at Majestic market in South Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Lama Utara subdistrict, South Jakarta municipality. Well, I have read the news in the papers.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Freedom of expression remain in the back seat: Experts
Freedom of expression remain in the back seat: Experts Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After last year's landmark direct presidential election, the upcoming direct election of local administration chiefs may further lead Indonesia toward being a full-fledged democracy. But activists and experts have cast doubt over the country's adherence to democracy, so far as freedom of expression remains restricted and in some cases is criminalized. The first government in the reform era passed Law No.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Local innovation for national prosperity
Local innovation for national prosperity William M. Frej, Jakarta The Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami have had an enormous impact on Indonesia and the economic program of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono government. USAID Indonesia and a host of U.S. government agencies have worked closely with the Indonesian government to provide relief and other assistance.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
The competition landscape of three financial giant
The competition landscape of three financial giant Paul Sutaryono, Jakarta The merger trend has struck not only Indonesia, but other countries around the world as well. In Korea, Citibank of South Korea, a member of Citigroup, the U.S-based financial group, merged with South Korea's KorAm Bank in a US$2.7 billion deal in February 2004, with the intention of improving South Korea's banking industry.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Corruption management
Corruption management It is very interesting to analyze the 2004 survey conducted by Transparency International Indonesia of governmental institutions in 21 cities in Indonesian. More details of the survey should be published to let the public know more about corruption in Indonesia. Many theories, hypotheses, assumptions and aspects can be derived and developed about corruption.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Aid fund control crucial
Aid fund control crucial From Koran Tempo The distrust in some circles over the utilization of aid funds for the reconstruction of post-tsunami Aceh and North Sumatra is inseparable from the short-term orientation of most Indonesian officials and the lack of supervision. Their immature way of perceiving problems and assuming responsibility has become a major constraint and source of irregularities, besides the inherent weakness of the nation's monitoring system.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Leased apartments expect more guests this year
Leased apartments expect more guests this year With the improvement in business sentiment, the demand for leased and serviced apartments in Jakarta is likely to continue to revive this year. New demand is expected to come from the increase in the number of short-term business visitors and expatriates working for multinational companies in the capital.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Parking attendants oppose rate hike
Parking attendants oppose rate hike The Jakarta Post Jakarta Parking attendants at city-owned parking operator BP Perparkiran said more transparency and better management at the company was needed before any rate hikes went into effect. "There should be no increases until someone follows the trail of money to see where it is leaking out," said a parking attendant in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, who asked not to be identified.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Flooding is a commonplace problem for the people of Jakarta
Flooding is a commonplace problem for the people of Jakarta and other flood-prone areas across the country, such as Lampung, South Sumatra and Kalimantan. Almost every year, Jakarta and these areas are inundated during the wet season. Unfortunately, every time a flood occurs it is heavy rain that is blamed. The reality is, however, that nobody can decide how much or how little rain will fall.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta to have 54 more apartment buildings
Jakarta to have 54 more apartment buildings Hendarsyah Tarmizi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least 54 new condominium (strata-titled apartment) projects are under construction in Jakarta, adding more than 3,400 new apartment units to the growing condominium market in the capital. According to a quarterly research report by Colliers International Indonesia, 19 of the new condominium projects will be completed this year, other 25 projects in 2006 and the remaining 10 projects in 2007.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Badminton training center falls behind the times
Badminton training center falls behind the times Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A quick tour of the National Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, shows that some parts of it have seen better days. Several of its wooden badminton courts are scuffed and scratched, and equipment in the cramped, stuffy fitness center is rusting.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Another Ngruki alumni in hot seat
Another Ngruki alumni in hot seat The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A Muslim cleric has revealed that one of two Indonesians arrested in the Philippines and charged with terrorism was a former student at Al Mukmin Ngruki Islamic Boarding School in Surakarta. The person in question, Mohammed Yusop Karim Faiz, had studied there for four years, although he did not finish high school, said Sholeh Ibrahim, the senior cleric at the boarding school, which was founded by terror suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Police succeed in foiling a crime
Police succeed in foiling a crime KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Police officers and a government agency here foiled on Friday an attempt to smuggle 22 undocumented Indonesian women from a Kupang port to Malaysia. In the raid at the Tanjung Lontar Tenau port, the joint police and government team arrested two employees from a local trafficking syndicate that smuggles women abroad, Ignatius Conterius, the head of East Nusa Tenggara Manpower Office, said on Sunday.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Raising the profile of 3G technology
Raising the profile of 3G technology Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Cannes/France Alcatel, the French telecommunications giant, invited three Indonesian journalists, including The Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba to cover, from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17, the Alcatel Forum 2005 in Paris and the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes. Below is a report of the visit. Watching your favorite TV program or film or downloading your favorite song via your cell phone is closer to becoming a reality.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Foreign investment in Indonesia
Foreign investment in Indonesia Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu's comments and concerns with regard to "out of control regional administrations' levies on foreign investors" (The Jakarta Post of Feb. 14) are to be commended. We will, however, wait and see if these words are finally going to turn into concrete action. Foreign investors have been patiently waiting six years for Indonesia to change legislation to attract or keep foreign investors.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia to induce rain
Malaysia to induce rain MALAYSIA: Authorities hope to induce rain soon over the Malaysian capital, which is shrouded in a thick smoky haze amid a dry spell that has sparked forest fires, news reports said on Sunday. The Meteorological Services Department plans to start cloud- seeding over the next week to help clear the air over Kuala Lumpur, The Star newspaper reported.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
UI to use English as medium of instruction
UI to use English as medium of instruction The University of Indonesia (UI) is planning to use English as a medium of instruction beginning the 2005/06 academic year as part of an effort to boost its competitiveness in the globalized world, UI Rector Usman Chatib Warsa said. "We feel we are not that competent in English now.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Illegally felled logs found in Jambi
Illegally felled logs found in Jambi JAMBI: Jambi provincial administration's forestry office is investigating the discovery of some 60,000 illegally felled logs as part of its efforts to curb illegal logging activities in the province. "The discovery (of the logs) was made based on a tip-off," head of the forestry office Gatot Moeryanto, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. The logs are suspected to have been taken from national parks in three regencies: Batanghari, Tebo and Sarolangun.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Reclamation work in limbo
Reclamation work in limbo Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang Three companies involved in the reclamation of Tangerang's northern coastline have complained over the House of Representatives' recommendation the project be halted.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Again, fine for littering
Again, fine for littering From Kompas It seems Jakarta's regional regulations on fines for littering in public places will be imposed again soon. The regulation has always existed -- but inadequate implementation means it has been less-than effective. While the regulation deserves our full support, without proper planning it will be to no avail.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Kornelius Purba
Kornelius Purba The Jakarta Post/Cannes, France Alcatel, the French telecommunications giant, invited three Indonesian journalists, including The Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba to cover, from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17, the Alcatel Forum 2005 in Paris and the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes. Below is a report of the visit. Watching your favorite TV program or film or downloading your favorite song via your cell phone is closer to becoming a reality.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
AHM to open 3rd plant in 2005
AHM to open 3rd plant in 2005 Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Giant motorcycle producer PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM) plans to spend up to US$200 million this year, particularly as it is constructing its third plant in Bekasi, east of Jakarta. The company would be spending between $150 million and $200 million to boost its motorcycle production and distribution, finance director of publicly listed PT Astra International John Slack said recently.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Foreign investment in Indonesia
Foreign investment in Indonesia Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu's comments and concerns with regard to "out of control regional administrations' levies on foreign investors" (The Jakarta Post of Feb. 14) are to be commended. We will, however, wait and see if these words are finally going to turn into concrete action. Foreign investors have been patiently waiting six years for Indonesia to change legislation to attract or keep foreign investors.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. Fuel (55) - 48 pts 5 cols 1 line (1x30)
1. Fuel (55) - 48 pts 5 cols 1 line (1x30) Fuel price hike fair for all: SBY 2. ADB (50) - 36 pts 4 cols 1line (1x28) 'Govt requires coordination' 3. Police (45) - 36 pts 3 cols 2lines (2x21) Corruption rampant in police, says ADB 4. AGO (40) - 36 pts 4 cols 1lines (1x28) Major reshuffle looms at AGO --- 6. Photos and odd
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/FOCUS
JP/5/FOCUS Flooding may cost farmers $5 million BANDUNG: Flooding in the past few days has damaged several thousand hectares of rice fields in several regencies in West Java, which will mean little or no harvests this season in the affected areas, a senior official has said.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
The furel price rise dilemma
The furel price rise dilemma From Koran Tempo An Indonesian economic think tank has proposed that the government postpone its plan to raise fuel oil prices until 2006, because the increase would trigger price hikes as a psychological consequence of the public reaction. The government indeed faces a dilemma in its fuel oil price policy-making. While state budget deficits necessitate subsidy reductions, the follow-on effects of a fuel price rise will also be grave.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Plug a wireless adapter into your USB Port
Plug a wireless adapter into your USB Port Zatni Arbi, Contributor, Jakarta The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has been one of the advances in computer technology that I appreciate the most: It has opened up a lot of possibilities. To begin with, you no longer have to use a large, space-hungry casing for your home-built PC if you want to load it fully with expansion cards such as an internal modem and a radio/TV tuner.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/8/Head
JP/8/Head Headings for page 8 1. Park 36pt 3/2 2x18 Parking attendants oppose rate hike 2. Univ, 48pt 3/2 2x21 UI to use English as medium of instruction 3. Cut line 28pt 3/1 1x27 Orchids get new home in Bogor 4. Limbo 30pt 3/1 1x23 Reclamation work in limbo 5. Speakup 28pt 4/1 1x40 'Councillors have already forgotten us'
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Writers discuss their craft at World Economic Forum
Writers discuss their craft at World Economic Forum Harry Bhaskara, The Jakarta Post, Davos Most young writers dream of someone offering them a retreat for a season, somewhere in the hills, where the view over the lake and the absence of a telephone would inspire in them absolute dedication. Likewise, inner-city artists might wonder, in those long days between paintings, if creativity is encouraged by clean air. In the real world, though, do beautiful surroundings make for better works?
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
New condominiums sell like hotcakes
New condominiums sell like hotcakes T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta Apartment units, be they mid-market or exclusive, are selling like hotcakes. When it comes to comfort, money apparently does not matter. A number of developers contacted by The Jakarta Post confirmed that their properties were selling well. Interestingly, many people are so eager they buy units long before construction is completed.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Planned reshuffle at AGO will affect senior officials
Planned reshuffle at AGO will affect senior officials Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government plans to reshuffle senior officials at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in the near future after growing public complaints about its poor performance, particularly in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases. "This will be done very soon," Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh told The Jakarta Post after a Cabinet meeting last week.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Improvement needed to bring badminton center up to standard
Improvement needed to bring badminton center up to standard Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A quick tour of the National Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, shows that some parts of it have seen better days. Several of its wooden badminton courts are scuffed and scratched, and equipment in the cramped, stuffy fitness center is rusting.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. HIV: 2 X 24
1. HIV: 2 X 24 Botswana beauty pageant crowns Miss HIV 2. ILLEGAL: 1 X 50 Malaysia prepares for biggest crackdown ever on illegals 3. GRESIK: 1 X 50 Semen Gresik union wants govt maintain majority stake
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
IPv6 technology use grows by 150 percent
IPv6 technology use grows by 150 percent The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A new form of internet protocol that will allow users bigger, faster downloads is quickly growing in popularity in the country, a study says. Encouraged by the significant increase in the number of internet users and subscribers, internet service providers and academic institutions are beginning to implement IPv6 -- a more advanced version of the old 32-bit IPv4, which provides a much larger space for internet applications.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN and the EC agree to strengthen cooperation
ASEAN and the EC agree to strengthen cooperation The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Commission (EC) agreed on Saturday to work to toward future cooperation. The EC is the executive arm of the European Union (EU).
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Hot and bothered by porn
Hot and bothered by porn From Republika Public anxiety has climaxed as pornographic video compact disks (VCDs) are widely circulated in the city. The police should seek ways to deal with this problem after the recent drive against steamy pictures. As reported in the media, it seems difficult to eradicate smut because as soon as one place is raided, another opens. Security officers are also apparently halfhearted in their attempts to stop smut.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Activists to report regent salary schemes
Activists to report regent salary schemes Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung Lampung activists said on Saturday they planned to take several controversial salary schemes created by regents in the province to the Minister of Home Affairs.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Direct elections of regional chiefs could be fraught with problems
Direct elections of regional chiefs could be fraught with problems C. Effendi, Jakarta While the majority of senior Ministry of Home Affairs officials prefer to be regarded as serious and unapproachable, Progo Nurdjaman, the director general of regional autonomy, comes across as being a friendly character who is open to suggestions.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Martha dies after negligence report
Martha dies after negligence report JAKARTA: After the family of Martha Manulang, 25, reported St. Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta to the police over alleged negligence on Friday, the patient died in the afternoon. Tempointeraktif.com reported on Saturday that the hospital management was ready to face the malpractice suit filed by the family.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI's efforts to restore investor confidence similar to E&Y's
RI's efforts to restore investor confidence similar to E&Y's Following the scandalous Enron collapse that precipitated a fall in business for consulting and auditing firms, big public accountant firms, including Ernst & Young, had to fight to restore client and investor confidence. Years later, James S. Turley, the chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young Global, sees similarities between the Indonesian government's and E&Y's efforts to restore investor confidence. The Jakarta Post's Zakki P.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
City parking attendants against hike
City parking attendants against hike The Jakarta Post Jakarta Parking attendants working for the city-owned parking operator BP Perparkiran, said that more transparency and better management was needed before any rate hikes went into effect. "There should be no increase until someone follows the trail of money, to see where it leaks out at," said a parking attendant in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, who wished to remain anonymous.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
PPP wants to replace Hamzah Haz
PPP wants to replace Hamzah Haz Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The internal strife in the United Development Party (PPP) appears to be worsening after members gathered for informal talks over the weekend demanded that the party bring forward its congress to the end of the year from the scheduled 2007, citing the need for reform and regeneration in the party.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims
Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims JP/18/Envoy Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims M. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In the aftermath of the tsunami that swept across Aceh and North Sumatra, countries around the world have contributed much to ease the suffering of survivors.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Marksmen set to target snipers in Ambon
Marksmen set to target snipers in Ambon Two groups of paramilitary marksmen have been stationed in conflict-prone areas of Ambon city to combat snipers during any rioting. The marksmen, equipped with high-powered rifles, will be stationed atop high-rise buildings in conflict-prone areas like Talake, Batugantung and Trikora. According to the chief of the Pelopor II unit company, First Insp. Yustanto Mujiharso, the two groups of 20 marksmen could cover the entire Ambon city during a riot.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
U.S. plans to resume military training
U.S. plans to resume military training Agencies, Washington/Jakarta The United States, eager to build up its alliances in Southeast Asia, has decided to resume training members of the Indonesian armed forces after cooperation was suspended in 1992, officials announced on Sunday.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
New Strata-Titled Apartments in Jakarta
New Strata-Titled Apartments in Jakarta No. Development Area Completion 1. Airlangga Apartment Mega Kuningan 2005 2. Bellagio Mansions Mega Kuningan 2005 3. Bellagio Residence Mega Kuningan 2005 4. Bellezza Permata Hijau Permata Hijau 2005 5. Daksa Residence Kebayoran 2005 6. Gading Resort Residence Kelapa Gading 2005 7. Grand Permata Hijau Permata Hijau 2005 8. Mediterania Gajah Mada Residence Gajah Mada 2005 9. Mediterania Palace Residence Kemayoran 2005 10.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Smoking restriction
Smoking restriction Herawati (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 16) misses the point about smoking restrictions. True, the smoker makes the decision whether or not to smoke, but his fellow passengers have no such choice. Like Herawati at home, they have to endure an unhealthy smoky environment whether they like it or not. The existence of more serious environmental problems doesn't mean that the smoking problem should be put on hold. That's a recipe for never doing anything.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
KL out to lure more RI students
KL out to lure more RI students The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Studying in Malaysia is a good option for Anidia Larasati, a 17- year-old final-year student at SMAN 70 public high school in South Jakarta. "I would like to take a health and medicine degree in Malaysia.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/ /
JP/ / Susilo's 100 Days and the tsunami The first hundred days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono's mandate have passed and the pundits, predictably, are pontificating. How does one assess the President's success or failure to achieve the expected results? The situation in Indonesia today precludes simply reaching for a checklist and seeing how many election promises have been kept and how many have fallen by the wayside.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/17/AUCT
JP/17/AUCT Bachelor auction romantic way to raise funds Evi Mariani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The hottest bachelor at the charity auction was Alexander Jovanovic, 43, an Aussie with a pair of hazel-colored eyes, 180 centimeters in height, sexy streaks of gray hair in his wavy, dark hair and charm that sent the ladies screaming and crooning. Of the total nine bachelors up for auction, his was the highest bid, at Rp 3.5 million (US$388).
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
More nurses overseas
More nurses overseas JAKARTA: Labor export company PT Binawan Inti Utama sent on Saturday 20 more professional nurses to the Netherlands, who expect to receive salaries of between US$1,200 and $1,500 a month. The nurses, who graduated from the Binawan Institute of Health Sciences (BHIS), would be employed in five hospitals in the country for three years.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Dedicating his life to helping lepers
Dedicating his life to helping lepers Multa Fidrus Contributor, Tangerang Disgusting. That is the comment that most people make when they see lepers being treated at hospitals and recovered lepers begging in the streets or other public places. This comment is not without reason, since dry skin, large open sores and blood seeping from knuckles, wrists or amputated legs are a common sight in lepers or former lepers.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Dump closure puts many out of work
Dump closure puts many out of work Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Scavenger Emay Sumarna has been "out of work" since last Monday when mountains of garbage at Leuwigajah dump collapsed, killing 89 people and burying 70 houses. As of Saturday, a total of 54 others were still missing. The disaster forced the 35-year-old to take his wife, Rini, and his daughter to the house of his wife's parents in Cililin. "I was once a factory worker but got fired in the 1990s.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Apartment living catching on slowly
Apartment living catching on slowly Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta Living in apartment is still a luxury for most people but for a young and dynamic executive such as Elina Ciptadi who is expected to come to the office early and return home late, an apartment is the only solution. Aside from enabling her to go quickly to and from the office, her rented lodgings are near including shopping mall, restaurants and cafe.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia prepares for biggest crackdown ever on illegals
Malaysia prepares for biggest crackdown ever on illegals Jasbant Singh, Associated Press/Kuala Lumpur More than 300,000 officials and volunteers were set to be deployed in Malaysia's biggest crackdown against illegal migrant workers, mostly Indonesians, after a government amnesty expires on Monday.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Fuel price hike fair for the poor: SBY
Fuel price hike fair for the poor: SBY Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta Aware that his popularity rating is likely to plunge over planned fuel price increases, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Sunday his administration would never issue a policy that favored the rich at the expense of the poor.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Bogor to increase tax revenue
Bogor to increase tax revenue BOGOR: Mayor Diani Budiarto ordered officials at district and subdistrict levels to remind residents to pay their land and property taxes by September so that the 100 percent tax collection target could be met. "Officials have to keep reminding them to pay taxes while giving public services," he said.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
The furel price rise dilemma
The furel price rise dilemma From Koran Tempo An Indonesian economic think tank has proposed that the government postpone its plan to raise fuel oil prices until 2006, because the increase would trigger price hikes as a psychological consequence of the public reaction. The government indeed faces a dilemma in its fuel oil price policy-making. While state budget deficits necessitate subsidy reductions, the follow-on effects of a fuel price rise will also be grave.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Foreign investment in Indonesia
Foreign investment in Indonesia Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu's comments and concerns with regard to "out of control regional administrations' levies on foreign investors" (The Jakarta Post of Feb. 14) are to be commended. We will, however, wait and see if these words are finally going to turn into concrete action. Foreign investors have been patiently waiting six years for Indonesia to change legislation to attract or keep foreign investors.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Accommodating
Accommodating thousands of children From Republika Following the report in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 3 that there is fear about the future of the child survivors of the tsunami disaster in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the central executive board of Hidayatullah would like to state as follows: 1. It supports the government's policy not to let these children be taken out of Aceh until clear data about their families has been obtained. 2.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Haj pilgrimage for Islamic bodies
Haj pilgrimage for Islamic bodies From Koran Tempo The Religious Affairs Ministry's Director General for Haj Affairs, Tulus, has stated that the operational improvements of the haj should be realized by amending the Haj Pilgrimage Law of 1999. Earlier, the House of Representatives' team for the pilgrimage supervision proposed the ministry's function be abolished -- which would leave the ministry with the main role of providing religious direction.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
The Peak
The Peak Serpong Town Square A scale model of the Serpong Town Square (above) now under construction in Serpong, Tangerang is comprised of apartments, a shopping mall, an office building, and other supporting facilities. The other picture shows a computer-generated impression of The Peak high-rise apartment building, currently under construction near Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Corruption rampant in police, says ADB
Corruption rampant in police, says ADB The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a corner of a kiosk in suburban Jakarta, a young man brags about how he managed to escape being imprisoned after paying Rp 1 million (US$107) to a police officer who had arrested him for possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
The Violent Face of Indonesia
The Violent Face of Indonesia Thang D. Nguyen Jakarta As 2004 came to an end, Western intelligence forces issued a warning of a potential terrorist attack in a Hilton hotel in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Fortunately, no terrorist attacks happened. Unfortunately, however, a killing took place at Jakarta Hotel Hilton on New Year's Eve.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta-KL relations put to test over oil contract
Jakarta-KL relations put to test over oil contract Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite the generally cordial relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, a long list of problems like illegal migrant workers, haze, illegal logging and sensitive border problems have long been a strain on those good relations for many years. Now, a dispute over lucrative oil and gas blocks can be added to the list of thorny issues, which will put the two countries' ties to a litmus test.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Loans and foreign control
Loans and foreign control From Media Indonesia Indonesia has become the focus of world attention following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Aceh. One of the manifestations of sympathy is the debt moratorium approved by the Paris Club. Indonesia requested such a suspension from the club seven times from 1996 to 2002. The debt rescheduling this time is accompanied by soft loans for the reconstruction of Aceh and North Sumatra.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Killing the Goose
Killing the Goose Regencies and cities, which lack resources -- or the capacity to capitalize on them -- should not despair when it comes to attracting private investment, because investors consider policy variables to be very important factors that influence their decisions to set up business in a regency or town.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt drops plan to raise logging quota this year
Govt drops plan to raise logging quota this year Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of Forestry has decided to drop its plan to raise its logging quota this year after discovering that unscrupulous timber companies were deliberately misreporting their demand.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Fuel consumption up by 15 percent: Pertamina
Fuel consumption up by 15 percent: Pertamina Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State oil and gas company Pertamina announced over the weekend that fuel consumption had increased by 15 percent over the past two months from the same period last year. The company said fuel consumption through February stood at 189,700 kiloliters per day, up from 165,100 kiloliter per day in the same two-month period in 2004.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Infrastructure is still not supportive
Infrastructure is still not supportive Unlike those in Europe, people in Asia, including -- if not, especially -- Indonesia like to have the most advanced cellular phone available, even if it is quite expensive. A visit to several shops in Paris showed the latest-model handsets being offered were being sold in Jakarta several months ago. Many people in Paris still use handsets that are no longer popular in Jakarta.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Again, fine for littering
Again, fine for littering From Kompas It seems Jakarta's regional regulations on fines for littering in public places will be imposed again soon. The regulation has always existed -- but inadequate implementation means it has been less-than effective. While the regulation deserves our full support, without proper planning it will be to no avail.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
* Govt urged to get its act together with plans, budgets Page 2
* Govt urged to get its act together with plans, budgets Page 2 * Malaysia a big draw for Indonesian students Page 4 * Bandung dump closure puts many out of work Page 5 * Local direct elections could be fraught with conflicts Page 6 * Jakarta parking attendants oppose rate hike Page 8 * Improvement needed to bring badminton center up to par Page 10 * Iran, Russia sign landmark deal to fire up nuclear plant Page 11 * Government drops plan to raise logging quota Page 13 * Handoko dedicates his...
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
E. Asia Summit's birthing pains
E. Asia Summit's birthing pains Eric Teo Chu Cheow The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore At last October's meeting of ASEAN heads of government in Vientiane, Laos, it was announced that an East Asian Summit will be launched by Malaysia (as host of the next ASEAN Summit) towards the end of this year. Many political observers in the region proclaimed the birth of a "new Asia" -- breaking new ground in Asian integration and community building.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Haj pilgrimage for
Haj pilgrimage for Islamic bodies From Koran Tempo The Religious Affairs Ministry's Director General for Haj Affairs, Tulus, has stated that the operational improvements of the haj should be realized by amending the Haj Pilgrimage Law of 1999. Earlier, the House of Representatives' team for the pilgrimage supervision proposed the ministry's function be abolished -- which would leave the ministry with the main role of providing religious direction.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tangerang to transform garbage into electricity
Tangerang to transform garbage into electricity The Jakarta Post Tangerang In collaboration with a British consultancy company, the Tangerang regental administration plans to use garbage to generate electrical power. Regent Ismet Iskandar said on Saturday that the company has been conducting a feasibility study for the project, which would be operational in two years time. "We hope that everything goes according to plan.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Semen Gresik union wants government maintain majority stake
Semen Gresik union wants government maintain majority stake The dispute between the government and Cemex SA of Mexico over Semen Gresik has been a protracted one. Semen Gresik's labor union is often portrayed as party hindering the settlement of the dispute. The Jakarta Post interviewed Suwandi, the union's secretary general, to find out the union's position in the dispute.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Proton told to set sights abroad
Proton told to set sights abroad Agence France-Presse, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia Malaysia's prime minister on Saturday told Proton to set its sights abroad as he launched the national carmaker's 1.8 billion ringgit (US$474 million dollars) new manufacturing plant. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also finance minister, said Proton had become the country's national pride but added the company needed to improve the quality of its vehicles and boost its global competitiveness.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Leased apartments expect more guests
Leased apartments expect more guests With the improvement in business sentiment, the demand for leased and serviced apartments in Jakarta is likely to continue to revive this year. New demand is expected to come from the increase in the number of short-term business visitors and expatriates working for multinational companies in the capital. "Inquiries for leased and serviced apartments are expected to increase in South Jakarta in line with the concentration of the new business area on Jl.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Public areas not health certified
Public areas not health certified JAKARTA: Only about 20 percent of 3,200 public places, including hotels, restaurants and schools in East Jakarta had certified sanitation, an official revealed on Saturday. Coordinator of public places monitoring of the East Jakarta health agency, Utomo Sukotjo, said that only two of five star- rated hotels in the area had obtained health certificates.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Tonics harmful not healthful'
'Tonics harmful not healthful' PALEMBANG: A number of tonics sold in South Sumatra markets, which are traditionally made of medicinal herbs, have been found to contain dangerous additives, an official says. Head of public relations at the drug control agency Burhanuddin Gumay said on Saturday that 82 tonics for different ailments had been found to contain substances that were addictive, harmful to one's health, or, in high doses, lethal.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt programs require 'coordination'
Govt programs require 'coordination' Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Out of control corruption is apparently not the only factor hindering the successful implementation of many development programs in the country. According to a recent study by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), if a government fails to properly plan the programs and budgetary needs of the state institutions that will implement them, then it is very likely they will miss their target.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Orchids get special home in Bogor
Orchids get special home in Bogor Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor A worker at the orchid pavilion at the Bogor Botanical Gardens attaches several epiphytical orchids to the trunk of a devil tree, locally known as a Lame (Alstonia scholaris). The garden's flora conservation unit has set up an orchidarium, where researchers and visitors can observe the life cycle of the wild flower.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Parking attendants say no to planned tariff increase
Parking attendants say no to planned tariff increase The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Parking attendants at city-owned parking operator BP Perparkiran said more transparency and better management at the company was needed before any rate hikes went into effect. "There should be no increases until someone follows the trail of money to see where it is leaking out," said a parking attendant in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, who asked not to be identified.
Mon, 28 Feb 2005, 00:00 WIB
Online plan needs substance to keep it from sinking
Online plan needs substance to keep it from sinking Fei Li China Daily/Asia News Network Beijing When the Government Online Initiative was launched in 1999 with great fanfare, hopes were high that the project would lead to a more efficient information flow and interaction between the government and public. During the past six years, the number of government websites has boomed.