Maruli Visits Sebatik to Identify RI-Malaysia Border Issues
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Border Management and Remote Areas Agency (BNPPDT) chief General Maruli Simanjuntak visited Sebatik Island in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, on Wednesday (11 November) to identify various issues in the Indonesia-Malaysia border area.
The visit covered alignment of the national boundary line and efforts to accelerate the operation of the Sebatik State Border Crossing Post (PLBN).
During the visit, Maruli went to the Aji Kuning Border Security Post, the Indonesia-Malaysia boundary marker, the Sebatik PLBN, the seaport and Sei Pancang Pier, according to a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Maruli said an on-site visit was necessary to understand the various problems in border areas. He said the BNPPDT’s mandate covered not only management of the national border, but also the management of remote areas with due regard for residents’ welfare.
“The President’s instruction is that this agency should also help manage the welfare of the surrounding community,” Maruli said.
On territorial defence, he stressed that it was closely connected to community welfare. In his view, government attention to the needs of people living in border areas was important in fostering a sense of national identity and patriotism.
“There is clearly a strong connection between the defence of a region and the welfare of its people. A national spirit will emerge among residents in the area when they receive attention from the government,” he said.
The Sebatik visit was part of Maruli’s series of working visits to several of Indonesia’s border areas.
He had previously visited Miangas, Rote Island and Krayan. His next visits are scheduled to take place on Laut Island and in Sabang.
“I am grateful because I have also seen many issues that we can actually resolve. Hopefully, we can start working on them early next year,” he said.
Regarding the Indonesia-Malaysia border, Maruli said relations and communication between the two countries were good. However, several technical issues remained over aligning boundary lines established hundreds of years ago.
“There are issues with lines that were drawn hundreds of years ago and which we are now trying to synchronise. We have reached conclusions on several points, so I think it is now just a matter of proceeding through the process,” he said.
He explained that resolving border issues required field verification and the involvement of several ministries and agencies within their respective areas of authority. Cross-sectoral coordination was therefore needed to ensure each issue was handled appropriately.
On the operation of the Sebatik PLBN, Maruli said further coordination was still required. He hoped the President’s policy would make inter-ministerial coordination easier so that the steps needed to bring the facility into operation could be completed soon.
“With this Presidential policy, hopefully coordination between ministries will become easier, allowing the process of operationalising the Sebatik PLBN to move faster,” he said.