Urban Prisons to Be Relocated for Housing Projects, Says Minister Maruarar
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Indonesia plans to convert land currently occupied by inner-city prisons into new residential areas, as part of a broader initiative to address the country’s housing shortage and improve urban land use.
Maruarar Sirait, Indonesia’s Minister of Housing and Human Settlements, revealed that President Prabowo Subianto had called on him to consider relocating correctional facilities to remote areas, freeing up valuable urban land for housing. The move would also, according to the president, make prison visits more difficult and potentially enhance deterrent effects for inmates.
“President Prabowo told me, ‘Ara, let’s move the prisons in strategic urban areas and use the land for housing. We’ll relocate the prisons outside the city—it’ll be harder for inmates to receive visits,’” Maruarar said during a post-Ramadan gathering hosted by the Association of Indonesian Housing Developers, or Apersi, in Central Jakarta on Monday evening, April 21, 2025.
Maruarar, who is often referred to as Ara, stated that the initiative is being coordinated with Agus Andrianto, the Minister of Immigration and Corrections. Together, they plan to identify and designate select urban prison sites for conversion into residential zones.
“We’ll start once we complete the inventory. I’ve spoken with Minister Agus, and we’ll meet soon to finalize the plan and begin preparations with housing developers,” Ara added.
This proposal comes as the Indonesian government aims to reduce the housing backlog, which is projected to reach 15 million units by 2025. It also aligns with President Prabowo’s broader vision of reforming the prison system, especially for financial crimes.
In a separate speech on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Jakarta, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of building highly secure correctional facilities in isolated locations, such as islands, to house corrupt officials and criminals convicted of stealing public funds.
“I will allocate funding to build fortress-like prisons in remote areas, where inmates can’t escape at night. We’ll use islands, so if they try to flee, they’ll meet the sharks,” the President said.
This unconventional but symbolic proposal reflects Prabowo’s tough-on-crime stance and his administration’s commitment to housing development as a national priority.