Malaria hits Riau's regency

PEKANBARU, Riau: Malaria has claimed 31 lives in the last two months in Indragiri Hilir regency, Riau province, sparking fear among people in the regency.

Of the total fatalities, 27 died last month in Belaras village and the other four died this week in Kualaselat and Simbar villages.

Besides the deceased, 80 other people in the regency have also reported suffered Malaria.

Indragiri Hilir regent Rusli Zainal said on Thursday that the regency health office was trying to stop the spread of malaria to other areas.

"We have sent health teams to the villages hit by malaria. We have also been spraying the areas with mosquito repellent," he said.

He hoped that people with malaria symptoms would report to the nearest health post. Other areas in Riau are also reportedly prone to malaria attack.

Malaria symptoms include high fever, headache and vomiting, for nine to 14 days. -JP.

Antara;Iwa; ANPAa..r.. Across-school-buildings-damage 10,000 schools seriously damaged JP/5/ACROSS

10,000 schools seriously damaged

BANDUNG, West Java: 10,000 of 35,000 elementary school buildings in West Java are in a damaged state due to their age.

Head of the West Java office of the Ministry of National Education Iim Muasliman said on Thursday that it was not unusual to find them seriously damaged, as most had been built in the 1970s.

"We have only a minimal budget to repair school buildings, so we can only start by renovating 217 elementary school buildings in 14 regencies in West Java," he said.

He added that the West Java administration had allocated Rp 900 million for the repair of 217 damaged school buildings.

Iim hoped that school committees, which include students' parents, would assist financially in the renovation of damaged school buildings. - Antara.

;Antara;Iwa; ANPAa..r.. Across-journalist-violence-probe Violence on reporter to be probed JP/5/ACROSS

Violence on reporter to be probed

JEMBER, East Java: The Jember Police will start investigating a complaint by a local journalist of violence and slander committed by a state prosecutor on June 24.

"We will follow up the complaint. We shall hold as evidence a tape recorder, as well as question witnesses and the prosecutor," Jember Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Setyo Prihadi said on Thursday. He did not indicate the timetable for the prosecution.

The June 24 incident occurred when the prosecutor refused to answer the journalist's questions. The attorney even swore and brushed aside the tape recorder so that it dropped and was broken. - Antara

;Antara;IWA; ANPAa..r.. Across-building-airport-worrisome Buildings near airport unauthorized JP/5/ACROSS

Buildings near airport unauthorized

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The West Nusa Tenggara office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism demanded on Thursday the provincial administration halt the construction of buildings on the edge of Selaparang Airport.

"The presence of buildings there will hamper incoming and outgoing airplanes when taking off and landing," head of the West Nusa Tenggara Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mahfud Achmad said.

Construction at the verge of the airport has been going on for the past few days, although similar projects were stopped in the past due to public objections.

"If the provincial administration does not stop the construction now, it will continue until buildings have been erected," he said, adding that the buildings in question were against the provincial administration's plan to expand the airport. -Antara