'Inul' pencil in demand

'Inul' pencil in demand

JAKARTA: Rubber pencils called "Inul" pencils, in reference to
dangdut sensation Inul Daratista, are the hottest-selling item in
the capital.

"In one day, I can sell more than 50 pencils," Ujang, an
"Inul" pencil vendor on the train connecting Tanah Abang in
Central Jakarta and Serpong in Tangerang, told Antara on Sunday,
adding that on his train alone there were at least four pencil
vendors.

Ujang used to sell newspapers on the train, but temporarily
switched "because the market for Inul pencils is on the rise."

The pencil sways while in use, which is said to be similar to
Inul's gyrating dance on stage. The pencil can also be bent into
a circle. It can be sharpened using a common pencil sharpener and
has an eraser at one end.

The pencil is sold for Rp 1,000 (11 US cents) each, but the
shorter ones -- which are usually sold to school students -- sell
for Rp 500 each, said Hatta, an "Inul" pencil vendor outside
elementary school SD Pembangunan IAIN in Ciputat, South Jakarta.
-- JP

;JP;BBY;Antara
ANPAj..r..
Focus-IPB-event
Students to hold public stage
JP/8/G-

Students to hold public stage

BOGOR: Students from various universities in Bogor will hold a
day-long public discussion, titled Panggung Rakyat (Public
Stage), on Wednesday to reflect on the last five years of the
reform movement students helped spark.

Government critics, including economists Drajad Wibowo and
Didiek J. Rachbini, and politicians Eros Djarot, Sri Bintang
Pamungkas and Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, have been invited.

The Students Executive Body (BEM) told Antara that they would
also invite noted scholar Nurcholis Madjid to speak.

The event will be held at the Bogor Agricultural Institute
(IPB) in Baranangsiang, organizing committee chairman Eka
Setiawan Karim said.

On Sunday the students opened a humanitarian aid post for the
poor. An exhibition of photos and articles regarding the May 1998
events and a public discussion would highlight the events. --JP

;JP;AAH
ANPAa..r..
Focus-busway-transportation
Blok M-Kota buses to be replaced
JP/8/8BUSWAY

Blok M-Kota buses to be replaced

JAKARTA: Buses currently plying the Blok M-Kota route will be
replaced once the busway project begins in December 2003, as
currently scheduled, a project leader said on Friday.

"We plan to use the buses currently serving the Blok M-Kota
route as feeder buses for the busway project," said Irzal Djamal,
chief coordinator of the busway project.

The Blok M-Kota route is currently served by PPD P1, Patas AC
B1 and Steady Safe 938 buses.

The busway is a city project meant to alleviate the capital's
transportation and traffic problems.

Experts have said that Jakarta, with a population of eight
million, needs a transportation system such as a subway system.
However, a subway system was deemed infeasible for the city, so
the busway system was devised in its place.

There is some skepticism whether the busway project will be
able to minimize the city's traffic and transportation problems,
particularly considering that it will serve only one
route.--Antara