"We will help push the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the lead negotiator with Malaysia, to reach an agreement soon so the post can be put into operation," said Deputy Minister of P2MI Christina Aryani, in a statement on Wednesday.
Following her visit to North Kalimantan on Tuesday to review the post in Sebatik, Nunukan District, the deputy minister said that an operational cross-border post would allow for better monitoring of the flow of goods and citizens, including Indonesian migrant workers.
She added that the necessary infrastructure and supporting facilities are already in place and ready for use.
Furthermore, illegal cross-border activities, such as human trafficking (TPPO) and the unlawful dispatch of migrant workers, could be more easily prevented once the post is operational.
"Supervision of migrant worker smuggling can also be maximized," Aryani affirmed.
Head of the Nunukan Immigration Office Adrian Soetrisno echoed these sentiments, stating that illegal goods and people crossing activities would be much easier to suppress with an operational post.
He admitted that monitoring these illicit activities has been challenging due to limited access and facilities along the border.
"There are many secret routes that we haven't been able to monitor optimally, and we don't know the people who use these routes," he said recently in Nunukan.
To bolster border control, the Nunukan Immigration Office has established immigration posts at several strategic points in Sebatik and Lumbis, supporting the existing Labang and Krayan cross-border posts.
Specifically in Sebatik, the office has also opened a passport service unit that issues passports and Border Crossing Passes (PLB) for local residents.
Related news: RI Govt urges jobseekers to migrate for work legally
Related news: Ministries team up to boost quality of migrant workers
Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
