Accelerate Spatial Planning of Former OBP Areas, BNPP Pushes for Land Certainty and Border Security
Indonesia’s National Border Management Agency (BNPP), through its Assistant Deputy for Spatial Planning of Border Areas (PRKP), held a forum on Planning Spatial Arrangement of State Border Areas in the former Outstanding Boundary Problem (OBP) regions of Simantipal, Sebatik Island, and the Sinapad River segment on Thursday, 16 April 2026.
This forum serves as a strategic step to accelerate spatial planning certainty while addressing the social and economic impacts on border communities in Nunukan Regency.
BNPP RI’s Assistant Deputy for PRKP, Ismawan Harijono, stressed that the forum functions as a coordination space to align perceptions, consolidate policies, and gather data-based inputs for border area spatial planning.
“This coordination aims to harmonise national spatial plans with those of border areas, provinces, and regencies/cities, particularly in former OBP regions such as Simantipal, Sebatik Island, and the Sinapad River segment,” said Ismawan.
He explained that Sebatik Island and Simantipal are primary focuses for planning due to boundary changes that directly impact land area and utilisation. On Sebatik Island, these changes affect 64 plots of land owned by communities and the government, totaling approximately 4,971 hectares.
Meanwhile, Ismawan noted, company, individual, and royal party lands spanning 127,336 hectares remain under state land status and require clear management.
“This situation triggers various issues, from land security, palm oil theft, rampant illegal cross-border routes, to unresolved land status determinations submitted by village governments to the regency government,” he stated.
Furthermore, the Assistant Deputy PRKP BNPP RI team has conducted direct inspections of the former OBP areas on Sebatik Island. From these inspections, several strategic development proposal points were identified, including a campsite location in Sungai Limau Village, patrol inspection routes along the border, construction of Border Security Posts (Pos Pamtas) and sub-sectors, as well as local market activities in Aji Kuning Village.
In the Simantipal area, plans are underway to develop it into a Boundary Small City amid ongoing spatial regulation processes. Regarding this, local communities have proposed compensation schemes for approximately 778 hectares of impacted land, realised through infrastructure development in Lumbis Hulu and Lumbis Pansiangan Sub-districts.
BNPP RI continues to push for the acceleration of these compensation realisations and priority basic infrastructure development, including the provision of alternative roads that do not cross neighbouring countries’ territories, preparation of final disposal sites (TPA), and improved inter-settlement connectivity.
Furthermore, Ismawan emphasised the importance of strengthening border defence and security functions through optimised defence areas, construction of border fences or forts, and addition of integrated security posts to suppress illegal land and sea route activities.
“The development of strategic Border Crossing Posts, such as in Aji Kuning, needs to be accelerated to enhance supervision while optimising public services for border communities,” he said.
The Head of the Nunukan Regency Border Area Management Agency, Robby Nahak Seran, stated that Nunukan Regency holds a strategic position due to its direct proximity to Tawau, Malaysia. According to him, border area development must be oriented towards community prosperity while remaining within each party’s authority corridors.
“Border areas are not just about boundary lines, but concern national sovereignty, defence and security, as well as community welfare. Infrastructure limitations and weak economic sector strengthening can become gaps for various problems, including potential boundary shifts, smuggling, and cross-border crimes,” said Robby.