NGO opposes planned prison

MALANG, East Java: The plan by East Java's Malang municipal administration to build a prison on Sempu island to replace Lowokwaru prison was opposed by an environmental group concerned with protected species.

"We want the Malang prison to be like Alcatraz (in the United States) and we plan to move Lowokwaru prison to Sempu island because the location is strategic and far from noisy activities," Malang mayor Peni Suparto said on Tuesday.

He said that the only obstacle to the plan was a building permit as the island was a protected forest.

ProFauna Indonesia opposed the plan, arguing that it violates existing regulations, particularly Law No. 5/1990 on conservation of natural resources and ecosystem. --JP