New CIQ Complex To Boost Border Security, Trade — CM
Date : 02 March 2020 Source : The Borneo Post Online
Abang Johari (front, third left) poses for a photo at the Serikin-Kalimantan border. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
BAU: A new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex will be built in Serikin to enhance border security and boost trade between Sarawak and Kalimantan, said Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said the new complex, to replace the existing facility, will be built near the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) control post and is expected to be completed within the year.
“This is a rather urgent project that needs to be implemented because the current complex is situated about four kilometres away from the Sarawak-West Kalimantan border and there are weaknesses that need to be rectified, specifically in terms of border security.
“After taking border security into consideration, we determined that the new complex will be outfitted with complete facilities and will help promote positive trading between Sarawak and Indonesia,” he told reporters after visiting the proposed site for the complex, here yesterday.
Abang Johari (right) is briefed on the plans for the new CIQ complex.
He said the complex would cost an estimated RM10 million and that upon completion, will have police, army and immigration personnel stationed there.
“We are also looking into building a nearer connecting road from Serikin to the border,” he added.
Abang Johari also revealed that the trade volume between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, through Serikin, had increased tenfold over the past three years to about RM40 million.
He said relocating the new CIQ facility would allow for better monitoring of trade activities in Serikin and the border, to guard against smuggling or other illegal trading activities.
“Because of the current CIQ complex’s location, the authorities in Sarawak are unable to take action against unregistered or illegal trading activities that go on in Serikin town.
Abang Johari (second left) takes one for the album with Sandra Trinata (right) from Nang Dee Resources, which sells handmade handicrafts such as mats, during his walkabout at the Serikin border market.
“This is our current dilemma and we have tried to overcome this issue by collaborating with Sosek Malindo, but we still need to relocate the CIQ complex so we can better monitor the trading activity in Serikin and the border,” he said, referring to the Malaysia-Indonesia Socio-Economy bilateral organisation.
“We need to do this fast, within this one year, or else anything can happen,” he added, stressing that border security was paramount.
The chief minister also said he would call for a meeting with the State Security Unit soon to further discuss how to develop the identified location.
Aside from visiting the proposed site, Abang Johari took a brief sojourn through the Serikin border market to look at the various stalls set up by vendors.
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