Kumham Imipas Strengthens Coordination in Managing Indonesia-Malaysia Border Crossings
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Kumham Imipas) is strengthening coordination in the management of State Border Crossing Posts (PLBN) between Indonesia and Malaysia, during a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday (9/4).
Deputy for Coordination of Immigration and Corrections at Kumham Imipas I, Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, stated that the management of PLBN plays an important role in supporting cross-border services, both in terms of immigration, security, and the socio-economic activities of border communities.
“This visit is also in the nature of establishing relations while coordinating, one of which discusses how to open the Sebatik-Tawau crossing,” said Surya, as quoted from a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
He hopes that the opening of this official crossing route can increase connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly for communities living in the border area.
In addition, Surya hopes that the optimisation of PLBN management can also improve cross-border services while curbing illegal crossing practices that still occur at several border points.
“With the existence of an official crossing route managed optimally, it is hoped that community activities can be more organised and illegal crossings can be minimised,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy I for Border Area Management at the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), Nurdin, conveyed that the concept of crossings at several border points has basically been designed and built, but still requires refinement so that its management can run more effectively.
He said the government is planning to add eight new PLBNs as part of strengthening the management of state border areas.
According to Nurdin, the development of PLBN not only focuses on supervision and crossing services functions, but is also directed to encourage economic growth in border areas.
“In the future PLBN development plan, we also pay attention to the needs of economic development in border areas, both for existing PLBN and those to be built,” said Nurdin on the same occasion.
On the same occasion, Assistant Deputy for State Border Crossing Management at BNPP, Siti Metrianda Akuan, said the importance of identifying the condition of PLBN in the Kalimantan region as part of efforts to strengthen border area management.
This identification, she said, is needed to see the development potential of PLBN while seeking strategic steps in reducing unofficial crossing routes that are still used in border areas.
She explained that the opening of this official crossing route is expected to increase connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia, especially for communities living in the border area.
The activity also serves as a forum to monitor the follow-up of various cooperation recommendations on PLBN management that have previously been discussed between the two countries.