KUCHING, March 16: The government will form the new 23rd PGA Battalion in Sri Aman as part of General Operations Police (PGA) restructuring efforts.
According to a news report from Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the new battalion will impact the effectiveness of border control and national sovereignty for the whole of Sarawak in terms of strength, areas of responsibility and operational success.
Saifuddin said this in a written reply to Serian MP Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem’s question at the Dewan Rakyat here on March 14.
Saifuddin also said seven new PGA outposts will also be built in Sarawak to further strengthen the national border control, especially in facing the impact of the Indonesian capital’s relocation to East Kalimantan.
He disclosed location of the new outposts are Raso in Lundu, Stass in Bau, Sapit in Padawan, Tepoi in Serian, and three in Sri Aman, namely at Gua Ming, Kaluh and Sg Putong.
He added the government also increased its operational capability to cover the border area more comprehensively, especially in the interior of Sarawak which has no communication roads, through a plan to build 29 Landing Points to facilitate access to the interior of the Sarawak border.
He said to ensure that tasks at the national border can be carried out smoothly and effectively, it is planned that a 77-kilometer security patrol road be built from Telok Melano, Lundu to Serikin, Bau. — DayakDaily
