Home Affairs Minister: Border Regions are the Forefront in Preventing Foreign Infiltration
The Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, acting as the Head of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), stated that well-developed infrastructure in border regions will serve as the nation’s frontline in facing potential infiltration from other countries.
Tito made these remarks while leading a coordination meeting with the Malinau Regency Government in North Kalimantan on Tuesday to discuss the current condition of several road infrastructures in the national border area.
According to information received, road infrastructure in the border region, particularly in the Krayan District of Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, has suffered damage, thereby hindering transport and logistics access in the area.
“Therefore, the Minister of Defence called me and the Minister of Public Works, so that it can be coordinated that this road access must be completed. We heard a presentation from the Ministry of Public and Works today; they are capable of completing it within three years, at the latest by early 2029, starting from next year, 2027-2029,” Tito said in a statement received in Jakarta.
He noted that infrastructure development in border areas is not only related to connectivity and equitable development but is also a strategic step in strengthening nationalism.
The Minister of Home Affairs explained that his presence in Malinau was to ascertain the exact condition of the roads in the border region.
“They have to go through areas like Krayan, using air or river routes, which can take days. This is a cause for concern for us,” he said.
Tito mentioned that these conditions had been previously discussed and deliberated to obtain further handling, yet those efforts had not yielded optimal results.
Recently, the Minister of Defence, who also serves as the Daily Chairman of the National Defence Council (DPN), Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, inspected the area. Subsequently, Sjafrie coordinated with the Minister of Home Affairs to strengthen the region in line with the BNPP’s outer border area strengthening programme concept.
The Minister of Home Affairs stated that, based on reports from Ministry of Public Works representatives, the infrastructure development requires a budget of approximately Rp32 trillion. Consequently, he requested the Ministry of Public Works to finalise the development concept and prepare a plan based on priority scales.
This aligns with input from the Governor of North Kalimantan and the Regent of Malinau, requesting that development be prioritised in populated areas. The finalised concept will be reported to President Prabowo Subianto for follow-up.
“We will first finalise the concept; the Ministry of Public Works will refine the master plan for development and divide it by year, according to the priority scale, including the budget required each year. After that, we will report to the President,” the Minister added.
He also suggested that regular meetings be held by relevant ministries and agencies specifically to discuss the progress of development in these areas. Through these efforts, it is hoped that development in border regions will be more equitable and directly felt by local communities.