SRI Roso Sudarmo seemed to be really enjoying his retirement when Tempo visited him at his home one late afternoon last August. He was watering the lawn and the plants in front of his house in Sleman, a suburb of Yogyakarta. Clad in a T-shirt over a sarong, the 67-year-old former bureaucrat and army man, stood close to his Honda car, parked in front of the garage. His property, as big as a volley-ball court, was shaded by trees, giving an impression of coolness and serenity. "I know why Tempo has come all this way, it must be in the pursuit of news," said the former army colonel, greeting Tempo effusively.

Raden Nuh, 45, wore a three-colored bracelet of woven thread around his wrist. It was a gift from Police Comr.Gen. (ret.) Noegroho Djajoesman, the former police chief for Metropolitan Jakarta from 1998 to 2000. "If I had worn this yesterday, the police would not have arrested me," Raden told Tempo last week. Noegroho who was interviewed just hours before, also wore a similar bracelet.

One day in 1968 I visited Lempad, the genius artist, at his home in Ubud. He met me standing among the stone statues he had arranged haphazardly on the veranda. He was already around 100 years old then. Bare-chested, his wrinkled skin was clear to see. On his almost-bald head were tufts of thin white hair.

HAVING had to change jobs from being CEO of the state-owned railway company KIA, to transportation minister in the newly-formed cabinet of President Joko Widodo, Ignasius Jonan describes his new responsibilities through an interesting analogy. Whereas his worldview used to be from a train, for the next five years, he must view everything from a helicopter. "Each area has its own specific problem but the four dimensions of my new responsibilityland, sea, air and railwaymust get equal attention," said Jonan.

Manggi Habir*

Jokowi's presidency began with high expectations and promises of change. But the difficulty and subsequent delay of forming a cabinet of his choice and the need to compromise on certain positions was disappointing. However, facing his first tough test of raising domestic fuel prices to cut government subsidies, thus freeing funds for infrastructure and other development spending, his methodical approach so far is getting positive response. One problem is to adequately address the rise in food prices and general inflation that normally follows fuel price hikes in the past. It is this that cuts into the spending power of the poor.

BUSINESS expansion uses business mechanisms, for example the acquisition of other companies or new investment. But the Lion Group has chosen a 'different road' in expanding its business.

SUSI Pudjiastuti has become a topic of intense debate. Born on January 15, 1965, the Susi Air founder's fame began when President Joko Widodo appointed her maritime affairs and fisheries minister. Many people have praised her abilities. But others have questioned her intellectual capabilities and personality, especially because she never finished high school. Almost everything about Susi has become a topic of discussion, from her style of dress to her habit of peppering her sentences with English to the stories of her life.

Eco Solution Clarifies

During the corner-stone laying ceremony of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) back in 1961, former President Sukarno requested that IPB produce as many agronomists and horticulturists as possible. "He knew the diversity of Indonesia's environment, and agronomists and plant breeders were needed everywhere in the country," said Muhamad Syukur, Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture at IPB.

THE JOY of the thanksgiving gathering that afternoon gave way to grief. Around 30 former members of a working group from President Joko Widodo's Transition Team questioned the role they might have in the new administration.

Industries
Krakatau Steel Net Loses Rp1.4 Trillion in 3rd quarter

State-owned Krakatau Steel recorded a net loss of US$117.4 million in the third quarter of 2014. In the same period last year, it lost just US$10.9 million.

This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.