By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Aug 15: The presence of additional security forces along the border should be a permanent feature to prevent illegal border crossings, smuggling activities as well as prevention of dreaded diseases such as rabies and Covid-19, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He pointed that even though there has been strong presence of security forces along the border between Sarawak and Kalimantan, more needed to be done to ensure that the porous border could be sealed off entirely in the long run.
“The security along the border now is manageable. (But)…our border is so porous with so many jalan tikus (rat trails) that we need the present strength of security forces to be stationed there until end of the year.
“In my opinion, their deployment there should be a permanent posting for security purposes and also to curb illegal border crossings, smuggling and to prevent dreaded diseases from spreading to Sarawak,” Masing told DayakDaily today.
Masing, who is also the chairman of the border security, said for the long term, the government will build more customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex along the border to ease legal crossings.
“Few new ones have been approved such as the one at Telok Melano, which Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had visited few days ago.
“Others which have also been approved is the one at Tapak Megah and the smaller one at Long Singut in Ulu Kapit,” said Masing.
As for Serikin, Masing who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development said, he will leave the decision to build the CIQ there to the Chief Minister. —DayakDaily
