Mega asks country's borders marked

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Rusman, Jakarta/Samarinda

President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered on Monday local governments whose territories share borders with neighboring countries to build monuments to mark the country's borders.

Speaking to key players in the tourism industry at the State Palace, Megawati said Indonesia would soon issue a new map of the country, with clear borders.

"I do not want the country to lose more land. So, do not take the issue of border markers lightly," the President said. "To ensure the border markers stay, I urge regional governments close to the border to build monuments to mark our boundaries with neighboring countries."

Megawati's administration has been working on the settlement of border disputes with neighboring countries since Indonesia lost the legal battle against Malaysia over its jurisdiction of Sipadan and Ligitan islands early last year.

The government has also received reports of certain parties who moved border markers in Kalimantan several kilometers toward Malaysian territory in order to facilitate illegal logging activities.

"We are going to continue negotiations with neighboring countries before we can produce the new map of Indonesia," Megawati said.

Separately, the East Kalimantan administration announced a plan to open a border crossing point between Indonesia and Malaysia in Nunukan regency to improve the supervision of the movement of people and goods across the border.

Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah said the border crossing would cost his administration around Rp 200 billion (US$22.2million). The province borders the East Malaysian state of Sabah.

"With or without the gate, there are always people and goods crossing the border. With a proper gate we expect to tighten supervision and minimize trafficking," Suwarna said.

He added the gate would help end the isolation of several remote areas near the border.

Currently, there is only one guard post jointly run by both the Indonesian and Malaysian armies. A four-kilometer-long free zone separates the countries.

"We will discuss the plan with the Malaysian authorities during our routine talks on Wednesday. We hope they will respond positively to the plan," the governor said.