By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, April 25: Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers will be assigned to join personnel from two other government agencies to help monitor the Ba’ Kelalan-Indonesia border point starting next month, said JPJ director-general Dato Sri Shaharuddin Khalid today.
The two government agencies there are the Immigration and Customs Departments.
In revealing this to reporters covering his visit to the JPJ office here today, Shaharuddin said such a move was deemed necessary in view of the size of the northern region of the state and the fact that Ba’ Kelalan is one of the key entry points between Sarawak and Indonesia.
“Ba’ Kelalan’s CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) checkpoint is one of the key entry points between Sarawak and Indonesia. In 2017, entry into Sarawak totalled 16,790, while leaving was 17,427,” he shared.
Last year, he said the total number of vehicles entering Sarawak through that border was 19,613, while those leaving totalled 19,466.
On another matter, Shaharuddin said JPJ was expected to implement the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for foreign vehicles passing through the Sarawak-Brunei’s Sungai Tujoh CIQ checkpoint next year.
The primary aim is to resolve issues pertaining to unpaid fines or summonses involving foreign vehicles. Under the VEP, it is mandatory for all foreign vehicles to register with JPJ.
There are four such checkpoints with Brunei, namely at Sungai Tujoh, Tedungan-Kuala Lurah, Pandaruan-Labu and at Mengkalap, but JPJ hoped to start the VEP initiative at Sungai Tujoh.
“We will bring this proposal to the Ministry of Transport as soon as possible, within this year. Hopefully, we can implement it next year,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak JPJ director Mohd Syafiq Anas Abdullah and Miri JPJ chief Maya Morshidi. — DayakDaily
