Apr 15, 2008

BePe became the 1st man in England?


NUMERO uno sport in Indonesia is footbal. No other sport is as popular as football in this Republic. Organized by PSSI or Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia (Indonesian Footbal Association). But the most prestigiuos sport in Indonesia is Badminton under management by PBSI (Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia). So my favourite joker –bapak Kelik Peliur Lara- mentioned to PSSI to change the abbreviation became PBSI too. PBSI means “Persatuan Bola Sepak Indonesia”. That’s a good joke.
In the 1970s, Indonesian foorball ranked along one of Asias leading football nations. In 1991, they won the South East Asian Games. Earlier on in Melbourne in 1956 they had qualified for their first and only Olympic Football Tournament. Several players are now playing or used to play in foreign leagues. The most famous names are Ricky Yacob (Kashima Football Club in Japan), Bima Sakti (in Sweden) and Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (in Switzerland).
I quoted from http://www.eyefootball.com/news/4572/Derby-want-Indonesian-star?/ that Derby County –the team that would be degradated next season- is really want to take Bambang Pamungkas as their striker. If it is happened so bambang Pamungkas (or BP, but fans here call him as BePe) maybe become the 1st Indonesia man standing in FA league. BP ‘s age firs cap for PSSI is 2- 7-1999 vs. Lithuania 2-2. He was born on the date june 10th 1981 position forwarder, height 170 centimeter. He ever played football for Selangor FC in Malaysia. Here is the list Indonesian player who ever played in abroad: Robby Darwis for Malaysian’s club (maybe on 1988 year), Ricky Yakob for Japan’s league (Kashima Footbal Club maybe 1990), Bimasakti (Helsingborg in Sweden), Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (Lucerne FC maybe 1995).

Derby are reportedly interested in signing Persija Jakarta's forward Bambang Pamungkas as they prepare for next season in the Championship according to various media sources. Derby boss Paul Jewell has reportedly told impressive Argentinian forward Emanuel Villa there is a future for him at the club, but wants to add an experienced attacker to play alongside him. The 27 year old Indonesian currently plays for Persija Jakarta (Persija= Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Jakarta), and has played all of his career in the Asian leagues whilst other impressive Indonesian talent Kurniawan tried his luck in Italy with Sampdoria temporarily. Derby are supposedly preparing a £300,000 offer for Pamungkas, who has already been linked with a move this summer to Australian side Perth Glory.

Pamungkas has over 45 caps for Indonesia bagging 23 goals. Bambang's agent in Europe, Anthony van Dalen, had previously revealed that several clubs in Europe are ready to give the player a try out. Should Derby sign Pamungkas, it is believed that they are ready to benefit a huge amount commercially as many regard Pamungkas as one of the best players to come from Indonesia.

Apr 7, 2008

Cut Poverty by Microfinance Sustainability


BAPAK Abdul Salam has finished his thesis to fulfilled doctoral degree in University of Gadjah Mada at December 2007. He ever been predicated as ‘Father of BPR’ in Indonesia. BPR is Bank Perkreditan Rakyat or people’s credit bank. From 2006 pak Salam is Director For Finance in Bank Rakyat Indonesia. Salam’s thesis about the sustainability of saving and Loan Cooperatives /koperasi simpan pinjam. In his thesis, he quoted the Lincolin Arsyad’s dissertation. Mister Lincolin is my lecturer for Economic Development class at 1997. Pak Lincolin’s thesis is about “An Assesment of Performance and Sustainability of Microfinance Institution: A Case Study of Village Credit Institutions in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia”. The thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Social Sciences, Flinders University Adelaide, Australia at the year 2005. Now I want to copy and paste mister Lincolin’s Abstract. I take it from http://catalogue.flinders.edu.au/local/adt/uploads/approved/adt-SFU20060621.142512/public/01front.pdf. Microfinance institutions have evolved as an economic development tool intended to benefit low-income people. The benefit, however, can only be achieved if the institutions have a good financial and outreach performance. This study has three objectives. The first objective is to assess the influences of informal and formal institutions and their interrelationships on the practical operational arrangement of Village Credit Institutions of Bali (Lembaga Perkreditan Desa or LPD). Second, to evaluate the financial performance and outreach indicators of the institutions and to assess the influence of informal and formal institution on the sustainability of the institutions, which has received little attention from previous studies. Finally, to outline some elements of a strategic business plan for two selected village credit institutions (LPDs) in Gianyar district, LPD Mas and LPD Kerta.
By using a case study approach, this study finds that the informal institutions (such as social values, norms, and sanctions) have significant influences on the practical arrangements of the LPDs, including the organisation, recruitment procedure, delivery mechanism, and remuneration system. Along with the influence of informal institutions, the formal institutions have also had some direct influences on the practical operational arrangements of the LPDs that are reflected in the supervision and guidance system of LPDs, an obligation to apply prudential principles of banking, and the remuneration system. The findings also show that the local government regulations (formal institutions) concerning the LPDs have accommodated the informal institutions of the Balinese in the background of their establishment, status and ownership, and organisation of the LPDs.
Based on the performance indicators - portfolio quality, leverage, capital adequacy ratio
(CAR), productivity, efficiency, profitability, self-sufficiency, and outreach – the LPDs in Gianyar district could be considered as success microfinance institutions. The success is influenced by some important factors. First, the use of local people in managing the LPDs and the application of character-based lending system in screening the clients. This has resulted in a high clients’ sense of belonging and moral obligation to support the development of the LPD Second, the use of social (custom) sanctions in the contractual enforcement has forced the borrowers to comply with their credit contract in a timely fashion. Third, the use of local community personnel whose remuneration is based on performance and low transaction costs has resulted in the high efficiency of LPDs. Fourth, a growing economy and supporting government policy at all levels through provision of a legal basis for the LPDs and the Central Bank regulation (formal institutions) have also contributed to the success of the LPDs. Thus, based on the necessary conditions of sustainable microfinance institution proposed by some scholars(Yaron 1994; Christen 1998), it can be concluded that the Gianyar district LPDs have been sustainable, and by that implication they have positive net social benefits for their clients.
Any attempt, however, to replicate the achievements of the LPDs by imitating its mode of
operations should be conducted with great caution. A mechanism that works well in one
socioeconomic environment (in this instance, in Bali) will not necessarily work in another, where the social system including social norms and values are different. But, the experience of the LPDs is a valuable thing since it has highlighted some critical issues that should be considered when handling the complex issue providing financial services to rural people.yuni andono achmad