PLN to overcome power deficit in 2010 : minister

Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said state-owned electricity company PLN was expected to overcome power deficit in 2010 after the government had completed the construction of thermal power plants (PLTUs) with a combined capacity of 10,000 MW.

The 10,000-MW power plants project was being implemented in two stages with the first expected to be completed between 2008 and 2009 and the second in 2010.

"We predict that in 2009 there will still be a power deficit. So, the thing that can be done in a short term is to shift work days to power-surplus Saturdays and Sundays," the minister told a press gathering here on Saturday.

Hatta Radjasa who was accompanied by Information Minister Muhammad Nuh said that alternating power cuts now being imposed by the government were not a long-term solution but short-term one pending the completion of power plants now being carried out.

Dangdut star wants answers, show called off in Johor Baru

Indonesian dangdut sensation Inul Daratista is seeking an explanation from organiser IMS Prima Sdn Bhd over the cancellation of her concert which was scheduled to be held today at Stadium Tan Sri Haji Hassan Yunos in Larkin, Johor Baru.
Billed Konsert Inul Live in JB, the concert was called off after district officer Jaafar Awang refused to issue a permit to the organiser on July 10. A subsequent appeal by the organiser was also turned down.

IMS Prima has now slated the concert for July 27 at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil. But a visibly upset Inul, speaking at a press conference here yesterday, said she did not know if she could make the new date.

Earlier, Inul said all she was asking for was to be given "clear justification" from the authorities on why the show in Johor Baru was cancelled.
"I've done nothing wrong and as far as media coverage is concerned, the local media members have been supportive," said a teary-eyed Inul, who was escorted by her publicity officer, Menasari Hassan.

"What's shocking is that I wasn't informed about the postponement until I reached Kuala Lumpur today.

Inul, who is famous for her "killer gyration" or gelek gerudi is no stranger in Malaysia.

The singer, whose upbeat tune, Goyang Inul is popular here, enthralled local audiences in a series of concerts between 2005 and last year.

Indonesian artist paints new image of Suharto

For some Indonesians, former president Suharto was a brutal dictator who ruled with an iron fist for over three decades. For others, he was a benevolent leader during whose time life was safer, cheaper and happier.

Artist Stefan Buana tries to portray both sides of Suharto in portraits currently on display at a Jakarta gallery. Some of his stylized images show the former president smiling rather benignly while others are more critical.

One of the paintings, "Peci Putih" or "White Cap", has several staples scattered across a white canvas representing both Suharto's face and a pattern of strewn bodies while another shows the former ruler's face locked in an enigmatic smile.

"Why Suharto? The former dictator ... remains a strong image of power and authority -- a short cut in expressive social terms," Michael Vatikiotis, an expert on Indonesian affairs, wrote in the exhibition's catalogue.

"Perhaps also a latent expression of freedom, because the image of Suharto is so recognizable and, now at least, is free to air, like Warhol's image of Mao," said the author of "Indonesian Politics Under Suharto".

During Suharto's days, artists in Indonesia were controlled and any political art, especially if it was critical of the former president, was censored.

Court seizes Bambang Trihatmodjo's property

The Central Jakarta Religious Court on Thursday seized two houses and two cars belonging to Bambang Trihatmodjo, the son of former president Soeharto.

The seizure of the homes in Menteng area, Central Jakarta, and the cars, which were considered joint assets, was based on a demand made by Bambang's wife Halimah during their divorce trial.

"The seized properties are joint assets," the court's spokesman, Nurheri, was quoted as saying by detik.com.

The South Jakarta Religious Court will next week seize properties and land in Ciganjur and Simprug, South Jakarta, also belonging to Bambang.

The KPU Auctions 8.000 Tons of Used Voting Paper

For the 2004 elections, KPU had purchased two kinds of voting paper weighing 21.725 tons from PT Lecces. After the election, there was 8.000 tons of voting paper left. However, the KPU has not auctioned or sold the spare paper.

Aziz, who is head of Planning, Finance and Logistic Division, said the paper’s absorbing power to ink is inadequate. The paper is fragile that it cannot be printed on. Hence, he said, print results will be bad if these papers were used.

In the upcoming 2009 Election, the KPU is thinking of tendering the procurement of polling paper to companies which can not only supply the paper, but also print them and deliver them to the regions and districts “We want this to be done in one package, not one by one,” he said.

Adhi Karya wins Rp1.7 trillion contract for LPG cylinders

Publicly-listed construction company PT Adhi Karya Tbk said on Thursday it has signed a Rp1.785 trillion contract with state oil and gas company PT Pertamina for the provision of 3-kg liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.

"The contract was signed on July 16, 2008," PT Adhi Karya`s corporate secretary, Kurnadi Gularso, said.

To realize the contract, PT Adhi Karya will cooperate with Barata Indonesia under a joint operation agreement.

The two companies will produce 3-kg LPG cylinders within 17 months at the latest since the signing of the contract

President: Indonesian human development index rises

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the country's human development index has risen in recent years.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop on the empowering woman and child protection at the State Palace, President Susilo said that the rise was indicated by the improvement on the individual income, education and health services.

"Indonesian human development index has risen from year to year," he said, without giving further detail.

On the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), President Susilo said that Indonesia still faced huge challenges to achieve the target in 2015.

"We must admit this. It is still a long way to go," he said.

"Even though there are some improvement, but we are still dissatisfied. There should be more improvements," said Susilo.

Over 30 million out of over 230 million Indonesian population has been living in poverty.

Indonesia lays claim to continental shelf -- and rich resources

On June 16, 2008, Indonesia made a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding its claim to continental shelf rights beyond 200 nautical miles of its coast.

This was done in accordance with Article 76 of the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As part of the submission, a coastal state has to delineate the outer limits of its continental shelf.

The above process is commonly recognized as an "extending maritime claim". However, Indonesia is not extending its maritime area, but confirming its limits beyond 200 miles.

There are many potential resources within and on the seabed, both living and nonliving. Oil and gas are two such resources to be explored. Moreover, the deep seabed is a unique environment, inhabited by organisms with special characteristics.

Their behavior and life processes could be the subject of potentially useful research. A coastal state can make use of any living and nonliving resources it finds under the seabed's surface.

Furthermore, this is a good opportunity for Indonesia to confirm its sovereign rights, as a ruling based on the CLCS's recommendation will be final and binding. If Indonesia does not assert its rights now, it may lose the opportunity to do so.