The nearest target for realization is the interstate roll-on roll-off route from Dumai in Riau to Malacca, Malaysia that will enhance bilateral relations especially to smooth the flow of good and people, including tourists from both countries
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Malaysia will work towards opening the Dumai-Malacca sailing route in 2020 to enhance bilateral relations, an Indonesian official said at the 11th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Working Group on Transport Infrastructure Friday. "The nearest target for realization is the interstate roll-on roll-off (RoRo) route from Dumai in Riau to Malacca, Malaysia that will enhance bilateral relations especially to smooth the flow of good and people, including tourists from both countries," Director of Sea Transportation of the Indonesian Transportation Ministry Wisnu Handoko said in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The plan has been part of the interstates cooperation that involves Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in the sectors of the economy, society and culture.

Handoko who was also the head of the delegation of Indonesia at the meeting said, both countries have currently prepared the ports and other procedures in land authority as well as the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS).

Dumai-Malacca route has been a prospective route for goods and passengers flow, according to him.

"This plan will be discussed further and brought to leaders in the respective countries to be materialized," he said.

The new route would show the commitment towards connecting Southeast Asian countries in line with the result of the 3rd Task Force Malacca-Dumai RoRo Ferry Operation Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April, he continued.

The sailing route is expected to be opened after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Indonesia and Malaysia at the end of the year.

"Dumai-Malacca route is one project proposed in the MTWG (ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group) and one of the priority projects in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and Brunei Action Plan," he said.

The route might be opened in November 2020, head of the Malaysian delegation in the meeting, Rosbi binti Abdul Rahman said.

"Basically, Malaysia has and will continue to prepare itself for the opening of the Dumai-Malacca roll-on roll-off route," she said.

In addition, the trading route between Pattani in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur and Sumatra can be launched with tripartite cooperation under the IMT-GT forum.

The two-day meeting was attended by 85 delegates of three countries. It also discussed issues on land and air transportation including the development of Kuala Lumpur-Banda Aceh-Port Blair connectivity, the establishment of the IMT-GT cruise corridor, implementation of Protocol to Amend the MoU on Air Linkages, and new strategy on land transportation, discussion for E-Commerce platform projects and preparation for the convergence meeting with the Working Group on Transportation Infrastructure (WGTI).

Translator: Juwita Trisna R, Sri Haryati
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
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