Malaysia uses Malinau as a reference for hinterland development

Malinau, North Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Government of Malinau Regency in North Kalimantan Province (Kaltara) has stated that development in the regency’s remote areas has been judged a success by the Malaysian state of Sabah, prompting a visit to Malinau to use it as a reference for developing their own remote regions.

“We received a courtesy visit from the Institute Development Studies (IDS) of Sabah, Malaysia. They are conducting a study on regional development, particularly the development of remote areas,” said Malinau Deputy Regent Jakaria in Malinau on Thursday.

The Deputy Regent said the IDS Sabah delegation had originally intended mainly to visit the Krayan area of Nunukan Regency, a border region directly adjacent to Sabah, Malaysia.

However, they also made time to visit Malinau Regency on Wednesday (29/7) to see first-hand the progress of Bumi Intimung, which is considered successful in developing its remote areas since being split off from Bulungan Regency in 1999.

For that reason, he continued, they wished to study the various development strategies implemented by the Malinau Regency Government as material for planning the development of the Kalabakan area over the next ten years.

At the meeting, Deputy Regent Jakaria added, the Malinau Regency Government provided an overview of how the people of Malinau have been able to develop their own region.

“The government provides knowledge and experience so that the community can be creative, develop their potential, and make use of culture and tradition as economic values that also contribute to Locally Generated Revenue,” said Jakaria.