North Kalimantan Urges Malaysia to Participate in Border Development

KBRN, Tanjung Selor: North Kalimantan Provincial Administration is urging Malaysia to take part in infrastructure development along the shared border, particularly in areas adjacent to North Kalimantan.

This call was made by North Kalimantan Deputy Governor Ingkong Ala during his recent visit to the Gawai Dayak celebration in Sarawak. While the event served to strengthen cultural ties among the Dayak community, Kaltara also used the opportunity to highlight strategic border development issues within the Malaysia-Indonesia Socioeconomic Forum (Sosek Malindo).

Unlike West Kalimantan, which shares a border only with Sarawak, North Kalimantan’s geography is more complex as it borders both Sarawak and Sabah.

“Unfortunately, Sosek Malindo has so far focused more on issues in West Kalimantan, while conditions in North Kalimantan have not been fully addressed,” Ingkong said in a statement on Monday, 23 June 2025.

He emphasized that their presence at the Gawai Dayak event was not merely ceremonial, but also intended to bring North Kalimantan, bordering both Sarawak and Sabah, into the spotlight of cross-border development discussions.

One focal concern is the Long Nawang Border Crossing Post (PLBN) in Malinau Regency, which has already been constructed by the Indonesian government. However, there has been no corresponding infrastructure development from the Malaysian side.

This lack of reciprocity is especially concerning given the shared cultural ties among border communities, many of whom belong to the same Dayak ethnic group.

“Culturally rooted cross-border collaboration can open doors to more concrete communication and development partnerships,” he added. “We want better access along the border, but there must also be willingness from Malaysia to invest in their side. Solidarity among the Dayak people can be a driving force for this.”

Ingkong stressed that border posts are more than just state symbols. They are vital instruments for improving the welfare of border communities.

He called on both central governments to pay closer attention to strategic development programs already underway. “That way, the people living at the frontier can truly experience the benefits firsthand,” he concluded. ***

Translator Misni Parjiati

Editor: Sri Wahyuni