Why Prabowo’s push for clay roofs in ‘rusty’ Indonesia may face a brick wall

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has called for a nationwide drive to replace corrugated zinc roofs with clay tiles, saying he wants the country to shed what he describes as a “rusty” image while also cooling homes, reviving a struggling industry and making the country more attractive to tourists. But analysts warn that the plan – dubbed gentengisasi, or mass roofing – could strain the environment, require costly structural upgrades and receive a lukewarm reception in regions outside...

By Resty Woro Yuniar