Indonesia and Sarawak Agree to Open New Cross-Border Bus Route

Indonesia and the Malaysian state of Sarawak have agreed to open a new cross-border bus route to improve connectivity. The agreement was underscored during a courtesy call by the Indonesian Consul General in Kuching, Abdullah Zulkifli, to Sarawak’s Minister of Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Monday, according to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching. The border between West Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Sarawak (Malaysia) currently records the highest volume of cross-border land travel along Indonesia’s entire land border. As a concrete step to expand the transport network, both parties agreed to enhance land connectivity by opening a new public bus route for the Kuching-Putussibau corridor. This strategic route is planned to operate via the Lubok Antu (Sarawak) - Nanga Badau (West Kalimantan) border gate. During the courtesy call, which aimed to discuss strengthening cross-border transport connectivity and safety between Indonesia and Sarawak, the Indonesian Consul General expressed appreciation for the rapidly increasing connectivity, both by land and air. On that occasion, the Sarawak Minister of Transport expressed his full commitment to continue cooperating with Indonesia to ensure safety and security standards on both sides. Regarding road user comfort, it was agreed that if there are any issues that disrupt comfort or require immediate handling on the ground, the public can report them directly to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching or the relevant authorities in Malaysia for prompt follow-up. This strategic meeting will be followed up with a planned field visit by the Sarawak Minister of Transport to the Indonesia-Sarawak border point designated for the new land connection. This step is expected to accelerate technical implementation to support economic integration and social interaction between the communities of both regions.