Malaysia, Brunei explore single checkpoint to ease border travel

 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says immigration procedures need to be improved as both countries work to facilitate cross-border movement.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking at a closing press conference after the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Malaysia and Brunei. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Malaysia and Brunei have agreed in principle to facilitate the movement of people between the two countries, including exploring a single-checkpoint system to streamline immigration procedures.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the immigration process remained lengthy, as travellers currently have to pass through several checkpoints before reaching their destination in both countries, Bernama reported.

“Immigration issues must also be improved, as there are difficulties entering each other’s countries due to outdated regulations.

“We have asked the technical committee involved in these negotiations at the federal level, in cooperation with Sarawak and Sabah, to expedite this process,” he was quoted as saying at a closing press conference after the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC-27) between Malaysia and Brunei.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said Anwar and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have “encouraged relevant agencies” to explore the feasibility of a “single checkpoint” system to streamline procedures and reduce the need for multiple passport endorsements between the two countries.

The joint statement also said both leaders agreed that the resolution of a stretch on their shared land border called Sector F-G would be based solely on the watershed principle, with the countries committed to jointly determining a single watershed and completing its survey and demarcation by May 31, 2027.

The two countries have so far jointly surveyed and demarcated 264.8km of the land boundary, or about 50% of the total, with both sides targeting full completion by 2034.

The leaders also called for the Working Committee on Security Matters Related to the Brunei Darussalam-Malaysia Land Boundary to finalise draft guidelines on information-sharing and designated contact points, to strengthen cross-border cooperation against smuggling and other illegal activities.

Both sides welcomed continued discussions on commercial rice cultivation in Sarawak to boost food security, and progress on the Brunei-Sarawak power interconnection project under the Asean Power Grid. - FMT