Border facilities devt: Allocation ready, so what are we waiting for? Premier asks

KUCHING (Aug 4): The Sarawak government is hoping that the development of facilities along the Sarawak-Indonesia border will commence within this year, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Sarawak Premier said the RM1 billion allocation provided by the federal government will be used to develop the Tebedu-Entikong border, as well as border post sites in Ba Kelalan and Tapak Megah in Kapit.

“We want to start hopefully this year and that is why I brought it up. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has been instructed by the Prime Minister to coordinate.

“I think we have to do it quickly because (Indonesia’s new capital) Nusantara is developing, and this will affect us.

“The allocation is already there, so what are we waiting for?” he told reporters when met after officiating the ‘First Governor of Sarawak: Tun Openg’ biography at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here today.

He was asked to comment on Fadillah’s comment that the RM1 billion allocation for this purpose has yet to be fully utilised by the relevant ministries and agencies.

Abang Johari said Sarawak has an approach to develop the borders especially in the Tebedu-Entikong and Ba Kelalan areas.

“I have promised to start with Tebedu-Entikong and we are ready to assist the federal government. In fact, this has been a long time coming, back when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was still in power,” he said.

He added the implementation of the project is “quite late”, but nevertheless thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the allocation.

“With this RM1 billion allocation, let us focus on what we have now on the borders.”

Fadillah on Saturday said the allocation was intended to upgrade the entry-exit complexes between Malaysia and Indonesia and enhance security along the Sarawak and Sabah borders with Kalimantan.

He said he had been instructed by Anwar to coordinate with the Sarawak and Sabah governments and all implementing agencies to obtain detailed updates on the border facility upgrades, as not all of the RM1 billion allocation has been requested by the involved ministries.

He also said that the development of infrastructure at border entry points, alongside enhanced security measures, is essential for Malaysia to foster closer cooperation and seize opportunities from the development of Nusantara.

Last year, Anwar, who is Finance Minister, said his ministry had given preliminary approval for an additional allocation of RM1 billion for the commencement of work to upgrade the infrastructure and increase the capability of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) Complex, and Sarawak and Sabah borders.