Government Strengthens Border Cooperation, Focusing on Sebatik Island Development
The National Border Management Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNPP RI) held the ‘Indonesia Border Partnership Coffee Morning’ forum alongside ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from neighbouring countries at the BNPP RI Permanent Secretariat Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (16/09).
The Minister of Home Affairs and Head of BNPP RI, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, personally led the forum, which was themed ‘Strengthening Cooperation in Managing Our Border to Promote Prosperity’. The meeting aimed to unify perspectives and strengthen cross-border cooperation to manage border regions more effectively and collaboratively.
In his address, Tito emphasised the Indonesian government’s commitment to changing the status of border regions, which have long been viewed as isolated, into a top priority for national development. “The border is no longer merely Indonesia’s ‘backyard’. We want to create the border as the ‘front yard’ of the nation,” Tito stated in Jakarta.
Tito explained that the role of BNPP RI is not limited to security aspects. In addition to maintaining territorial sovereignty alongside the TNI, Polri, immigration, customs, and quarantine, BNPP RI holds a strategic mandate to advance the economy of citizens living on the nation’s outermost edges.
As a tangible form of infrastructure strengthening, Indonesia currently operates 15 Integrated Border Posts (PLBN). The government aims to continue the development of these facilities until a total of 24 PLBNs are operational across all national borders.
Alongside physical infrastructure improvements, the former National Police Chief also expressed appreciation for the progress of land diplomacy dialogues with the Malaysian government. Cooperation between the two nations has successfully resolved several Outstanding Boundary Problems (OBP).
Currently, the Indonesian government is shifting its primary focus to the arrangement of the boundary line on Sebatik Island. This area is crucial as it is split between the sovereign territories of Indonesia and Malaysia.
“Friendly talks and very productive discussions have been held, and we have resolved several disputed areas. But now, to be honest, we are focusing on Sebatik Island,” said Tito.
Given the complexities on the ground, BNPP RI, together with relevant ministries and agencies, has formed a special team. This team is tasked with formulating fair border management, with the primary goal of increasing the welfare of communities residing on both sides of the border.