Maluku Provincial Government Accelerates Wonreli Cross-Border Post Construction to Assert Sovereignty

The Maluku Provincial Government is accelerating the construction of the Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in Wonreli, Southwest Maluku, as an effort to assert state sovereignty while boosting economic growth and improving the welfare of communities on the Indonesia-Timor Leste border. Deputy Governor of Maluku Abdullah Vanath stated in Ambon on Monday that the development of the Wonreli PLBN is an implementation of national policy to strengthen the state’s presence in the outermost territories and enhance cross-border services. “The construction of the PLBN in Wonreli is not merely about building physical facilities, but is a tangible manifestation of the state’s presence in the frontier region,” Vanath said while chairing a meeting on accelerating the PLBN Wonreli development with the local government and relevant agencies. He explained that the PLBN is a symbol of the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, which will strengthen state territorial surveillance, improve the quality of public services, facilitate cross-border trade, and open up investment opportunities and new economic growth for the people of Kisar Island and Southwest Maluku Regency. According to him, Wonreli has been designated as the gateway service centre for the border area based on Presidential Regulation Number 33 of 2015 concerning the Spatial Plan for State Border Areas in Maluku Province. Furthermore, a survey by the National Border Management Agency (BNPP) ranked Wonreli as the location with the highest score for the construction of a Type D PLBN compared to several other locations on Lirang Island and Wetar Island. Therefore, the Maluku Provincial Government is pushing for the Wonreli PLBN construction to be included in the Presidential Instruction on the Third Phase of PLBN Development so that it can obtain central government support. “The construction of the Wonreli PLBN must be our shared priority agenda. All stakeholders must immediately coordinate intensively so that the Wonreli PLBN development can be accommodated in the Presidential Instruction for the Third Phase of PLBN Development,” he said. He noted that one of the main prerequisites for the construction to be realised immediately is the settlement of land status with legal certainty, free from disputes, and ready to be granted to the central government. Beyond the land aspect, Vanath requested accelerated coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the readiness of supporting infrastructure, such as road access, ports, electricity networks, telecommunications, clean water, and Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) facilities. According to him, the existence of this infrastructure is a crucial factor for the PLBN to function optimally as a state gateway as well as a service and economic activity centre in the border area. The Maluku Provincial Government has also divided tasks with the Southwest Maluku Regency Government and the Maluku Province Regional Border Management Agency (BPPD) to accelerate the completion of administrative documents, land legality, the formulation of development proposals, and official support to the BNPP and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. “Our time is limited. We must jointly shepherd the momentum for proposing this to the central government. Eliminate sectoral egos, because the presence of the Wonreli PLBN is a matter of national pride and the dignity of welfare for the people of Maluku on the state border,” Vanath said.