INDONESIA has supported the proposal to construct the Sarawak-Kalimantan border superhighway in the new capital - Nusantara - located in the Kalimantan province.
Head of Indonesia Consulate General Office in Sarawak, Raden Sigit Witjaksono said Indonesia also wants to see land connectivity between Nusantara and Sarawak enhanced.
"We share the same border between Kalimantan and Sarawak.
"We (the Indonesian Government) also want to see the construction of more land connections from Nusantara into the Sarawak border division of Kapit.
"We are neighbours and there are vast opportunities for much progress in the years ahead.
"Nusantara is taking shape rapidly and the border areas will be seeing a lot of infrastructure development including land links," he said.
Speaking at a community event in Kapit town in central Sarawak, Raden said talks between Indonesia and Malaysia on the Sarawak-Kalimantan border plans are ongoing.
"Both sides want to see mutual socio-economic benefits that will be brought about by the opening of the Sarawak-Kalimantan border region," he said.
Raden said Kalimantan has a lot in common with Sarawak.
"Kalimantan and Sarawak are very similar in terms of geographical set-ups.
"We are also very similar in terms of racial and ethnic composition.
"Sarawak has more than 30 ethnic groups, while Kalimantan has more than 300 ethnic groups," he noted.
The Sarawak state government and the Federal Government in Putrajaya have started plans to construct a super-highway spanning the 1,000 km Sarawak-Kalimantan boundary.
Putrajaya is also looking into constructing the mega Trans Borneo Railway that will link Sarawak-Sabah-Kalimantan. - December 10, 2024