Habibie a perfect match for Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): The vice presidential election is not until Wednesday, but most informed citizens believe B.J. Habibie will get the nod after all five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly picked him as their sole candidate.

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Commission deliberations end smoothly on last day JAKARTA (JP): The final day of commission-level deliberations in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) went smoothly yesterday with only a minor "interruption" on a technical issue.

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Enjoying underwater gardens JAKARTA (JP): Talk of wanting to dive, and Nunung Hasan, head of Dive Indonesia, will perk up. She will not even try to persuade you to take it up. She will, in turn, speak of diving as if she were reliving her countless underworld experiences.

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Inter-faith prayers held JAKARTA (JP): A loosely associated group of women, Seruni (Indonesian Women's Call), are inviting women of all creeds to a joint prayer to mark International Women's Day today.Women's Day is held to observe women's fight for justice, progress and peace.

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Dutch journalist ordered to leave RI within a week JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government has ordered a Dutch journalist to leave the country within a week for bringing three people without proper identification papers into the People's Consultative Assembly building.

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Catchphrases as life vests in a storm JAKARTA (JP): The last few months have been the time to brandish those tired cliches your mother uttered when your little world seemed to be crumbling around you.Every cloud has a silver lining. No pain, no gain. What does not kill you, makes you stronger.

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Medicine becoming a luxury few can affordBy Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): The crisis strikes without mercy, including the sick. As drug prices skyrocket and people make hard decisions on purchases, lives are at stake."I just hope neither of my two children get sick," said taxi driver Kusnadi.

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Health clubs pinch pocketbooks JAKARTA (JP): Mother of three Dariyati has had to make a lot of compromises in her life. But, at 46, she insists she will not sacrifice her looks to ravages of time or finances.

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TV todayTVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Talk Show 8:00 Breaking News 8:10 Music 9:00 Breaking News 9:27 Music 10:10 Talk Show 10:40 Music 11:00 TVRI News 11:15 Music 11:40 Documentary: Paket Profil Politisi 12:00 p.m.

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Sidewalk drug vendors doctor rich and poorBy Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): "I have a pain in my stomach, and every time I eat something I want to throw up," a man told a roadside drug seller in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta.

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Some of the 225 Generic Drugs Prices in Pharmacies (As of Feb. 18) 1. Alopurinol 100 mg 100 tab Rp 16,6002. Alendazol 400 mg 30 tab Rp 14,6003. Amilorid 5 mg 100 tab Rp 14,3504. Ainofilin 200 mg 100 tab Rp 6,3505.

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Din SyamsudinCorrection: In yesterday's story Golkar Defends Its Policies to Foreign Press, the second paragraph incorrectly identified one of the participants in the media briefing as Nazaruddin Syamsudin, instead of Din Syamsudin. We apologize for the error.

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The DecisionBy Sori Siregar The phone rings. Dugano picks up the receiver. He listens to the voice saying something from the other end. He tries hard to catch what is said. He fails. The words, coming one after the other, are unclear. Dugano hangs up.

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People's thoughts on the drug crisis JAKARTA (JP): Removed from fears of layoffs and food shortages, most of us are willing ourselves to stay healthy.Medicines, suddenly exorbitantly expensive and hard to find, rank as a luxury item for many.

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UCI complains on unpaid allowances JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Association has received a written complaint from the International Cycling Union (UCI) because the association has yet to pay umpires' allowances for the 19th SEA Games cycling competition here last October.

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Widayat gives his gift of art to the world VICTORIA, Canada (JP): Watching and listening to the elders in any society is the privilege of observing history firsthand, before it passes beyond our reach.This is as true in art as in any other area of life.

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Crisis puts brakes on rush to country's sports clubs SUKABUMI, West Java (JP): Following a 45-minute drive from Jakarta's clamor, a young woman stands on a deafeningly quiet airstrip.She slowly walks towards a bird of a machine.

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Govt to save students JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to provide subsidized loans to students at both state and private universities to enable them to complete their studies, a Ministry of Education and Culture official said.

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Soeharto: A soldier who never abandons the battlefield Soeharto and B.J. Habibie are the names likely to steal headlines in the coming days. They are the sole candidates for president and vice president respectively in the ongoing session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

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Guess What? Slamet Rahardjo JAKARTA (JP): Director Slamet Rahardjo has wrapped his latest film, Telegram, but it may be a while until we can see it.Due to the ongoing crisis and long-standing money woes of the local movie industry, viewers may have to "wait until monetary situations subside ...

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Elite clubs come down a peg from their ivory towersBy Yogita Tahil Ramani While all businesses are finding it tough going these days, it would be risky to make blanket assumptions about effects on those special places where we pamper ourselves and put our bodies through their paces.

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Rising medical costs take heavy toll on public healthBy Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): The now familiar term monetary crisis is taking on a tragic meaning in the cost to public health.Four patients suffering from kidney failure died in Bali, reportedly after medical supplies ran out.

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Public ailing over acute drug crisis Expensive as it may be, many Indonesians have no choice but to pay increasingly skyrocketing prices for indispensable medical supplies. The government is doing all it can about the country's dependence on imported health drugs and equipment.

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Time to keep wary eye on art treasuresBy Astri Wright VICTORIA, Canada (JP): The emphasis in Indonesian media and art exhibitions in the last few years was on emerging painters.

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There is not much to laugh about in local sitcomsBy Antariksawan Jusuf JAKARTA (JP): Ask what local television programs viewers are dying to see, and the pat answer would be the situation comedy, or sitcom.

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Cats, cats, cats... Mrs. Amin (not her real name) is very fond of cats. She takes care of as many as 62 of these four-footed creatures, much to the annoyance of her daughter who simply hates cats. However, out of respect for her mother, she dares not speak her mind openly.

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