Sibarani Urges Protection for Immigration Officers at Kalbar Border Amid Work Risks

Pontianak, VIVA – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission XIII from the West Kalimantan I electoral district, Franciscus Maria Agustinus Sibarani, spotlighted the heavy challenges of immigration oversight in border regions during a Specific Working Visit to the West Kalimantan Immigration Office on Thursday, 9 April 2026. He assessed that the rising flow of people is not yet matched by field oversight capacity, particularly in border areas with challenging geographical characteristics. “On one hand, the flow of human traffic is increasing. But on the other hand, oversight capacity is not fully able to keep up,” Sibarani stated in his remarks on Saturday, 11 April 2026. According to him, the length of the West Kalimantan land border with Malaysia, exceeding 1,000 km, presents its own challenges. To reach various points, officers must endure hours-long journeys through rocky roads, muddy terrain, forested areas, and river routes. “This is not an easy condition. The risks in the field are very high, while access remains limited,” he stressed. In addition to the geographical conditions, he also highlighted limitations in basic infrastructure at several border points, such as electricity, clean water, and communication networks, which directly impact the effectiveness of oversight. “Without adequate support, the burden of field oversight is not commensurate with the available facilities,” he continued. Therefore, Sibarani urged strengthened support for immigration officers, both in terms of facilities and infrastructure, enhancement of human resource capacity, as well as the provision of performance allowances and work risk protection. “Officers at the border face far heavier challenges. State support must be commensurate with the risks they face,” he said. He affirmed that strengthening immigration oversight is an important part of safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring legal certainty. “Therefore, we in Commission XIII view that support for facilities and allowances for officers in border areas must be a priority,” he concluded.