By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 14: The strategic development of Lubok Antu, including the construction of an Inland Port, has been proposed to tap into cross-border economic potential with Kalimantan, Indonesia, while strengthening security along the extensive Sarawak–Kalimantan border.
Lubok Antu MP Roy Angau Gingkoi stressed that despite allocations under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to upgrade border roads and the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS), security measures must not be overlooked.
“Lubok Antu covers an area of 3,145 square kilometres with 121 kilometres of shared border with Kalimantan, but it is only guarded by 115 police personnel. This is far too few for such a vast border area,” he asserted when debating in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (Aug 13), as reported by TVS.
Roy pointed out that Lubok Antu’s location, just a 10-minute drive from the CIQS Badau in Kalimantan and close to major towns such as Putussibau, offers a significant advantage for boosting bilateral trade and economic growth.
He proposed a feasibility study for building an Inland Port in Lubok Antu to serve as a hub for the collection, inspection, and distribution of goods.
“This step can help reduce congestion at the CIQS, speed up logistics processes, and create new job opportunities for local residents,” he said.
In addition, Roy questioned whether security control along the Sarawak–Kalimantan border would be strengthened through the addition of police personnel or the empowerment of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKSEM).
“I also hope that the allocation provided will be used to upgrade border security posts and related infrastructure,” he added.
Emphasising Lubok Antu’s strategic potential as a major trade hub, Roy said development in the area must be aggressively planned so Malaysians can enjoy progress on par with Kalimantan residents, especially ahead of Indonesia’s capital relocation to Nusantara. — DayakDaily
