Focus on Jakarta
FIABCI award for Ancol Dreamland
Ancol Dreamland, one of the city's largest tourist attractions, received the "FIABCI Prix d'Excellence" for the leisure category from the world real estate organization Federation Internationale des Administration de Biens at Counceils Immobiliers (FIABCI).
Dreamland's management was quoted yesterday by Antara as saying that the FIABCI public relations office in Paris sent news on Wednesday of the victory to Ciputra, the president of PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, which is managing the resort.
The award will be presented at the FIABCI congress in Chicago, the United States, from May 28 to June 2.
According to the report, Ancol Dreamland defeated worthy competition from Singapore, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Oslo and Prague in the leisure category.
Ancol was judged by the team of judges to be an important and first class tourist resort with sound environmental programs.
Ten million people visit Ancol Dreamland every year, making it the sixth most visited such fun park in the world. (has)
PDI to hold farewell ceremony
The Jakarta Chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) will hold a religious farewell party on Saturday at the Graha Purna Yudha building on Jl. Sudirman for top party executives who will depart for Mecca, Saudi Arabia on haj pilgrimages.
Prominent Islamic preacher KH Zainuddin MZ will give a sermon during the ceremony.
"The farewell ceremony will be held in connection with the departures of several key PDI figures on haj pilgrimages to the Holy Land (Mecca)," H. Hamdan Akil, chairman of the ceremony organizing committee told reporters yesterday.
Aziz Buang, another member of the organizing committee, said the departing party executives this year include PDI Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of the PDI, MAS Alex Asmasoebrata.
"The farewell party is designed not only for PDI members but for outsiders as well. We sent invitations to executives from other political organizations, such as Golkar and the United Development Party, as well as ranking officials of the city administration," noted Aziz.
PDI, a fusion of the nationalist parties and the Christian- based political parties, has been plagued by internal party differences.
"The religious events are expected to quell internal dissent among party members," said Aziz. (has)
Traffic reroute in Cideng
From yesterday through Aug. 5, road users are required to avoid the slow lane on the southern side of Jl. Kyai Caringin from the Caringin-Biak intersection to the Caringin-Cideng intersection, due to construction work on water mains along Jl. Caringin and Jl. Biak, West Jakarta.
Motorists are also urged to avoid the Hasyim Ashari-Biak intersection which has also been designated a working area by the construction team.
This announcement was made yesterday by J.P. Sepang, the head of the City Land Transportation and Traffic Control Office. (06)
Voucher system introduced
The voucher system, applied to payments for transporting containers, has a positive impact, Herry Y.C. Rotty, the chief of the special unit for transportation at the Tanjung Priok port of Organda DKI (The City Land Transportation Organization), said here yesterday.
The new system, introduced last Monday, makes it impossible for users of container transportation services to delay making payments, Herry said.
Under the system, users are required to get vouchers from the state-owned Bank Bukopin, otherwise they will not be served, Herry said.
Under the new system, drivers of container trucks will still receive 'pocket money' amounting to 20 to 30 percent of transportation fees from the transportation companies, Herry said, adding that cash payments are not known under the voucher system.
Upwards of 1,000 containers have thus far been transported under the system, Herry said. (06)