KUCHING: Sarawak plans to tighten security along its border with Kalimantan, Indonesia, especially in areas identified as hotspots.
Deputy chief minister James Jemut Masing said there was an urgent need to reinforce security measures at the border, especially at hotspots such as Bau, Lundu, Telok Melano, Biawak and Serikin.
“We need to intensify our efforts in the hotspots to tackle human trafficking, smuggling as well as to contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said in a statement today.
“These areas are in close proximity to villages on both sides, making it more accessible for illegal immigrants to enter Sarawak.
“They only need to go on foot for a few hundred metres and cross the border to come here (Sarawak). This is dangerous as they may bring in contraband and spread Covid-19,” he said.
He believes there are still many undocumented immigrants in plantation areas.
Masing, who is also the Sarawak Border Security Committee chairman, said this after a weekly meeting of the committee.
He said the Sarawak government would provide necessary equipment to the relevant authorities so that they could function at their best in safeguarding the state’s borders.
He said scramblers, all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drive trucks would be made available for this purpose soon.
“In more remote border posts such as Tapak Megah, Rantau Pandora and Ba’Kelalan, we need to make sure that basic telecommunication equipment is available.
“I have already recommended installing the solar-powered ConnectMe in areas not reachable via telecommunication towers.”
It was previously reported that there are no less than 70 illegal trails from Telok Melano to Lawas, posing a real challenge for Sarawak in sealing the border with Kalimantan, Indonesia. - FMT
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