MIRI - The Federal Government and the Malaysian Armed Forces will construct another 19 new border-security posts along east Malaysia's border with Kalimantan, Indonesia to be manned by the army.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said there will be 14 new posts in Sarawak and five in Sabah.
"Construction of these 19 new border-security posts for our army in Sarawak will be carried out in stages.
"The targeted date of completion is by the end of 2025.
"By then, with the completion of these 19 new Army border outposts, east Malaysia will have a total of 36 border-security posts manned by the army at their border with Kalimantan.
"This will enhance our security to a much higher level," he said after visiting the Balai Ringin checkpoint about 60 kms from Kuching city.
Adly said Putrajaya is looking closely at current developments ongoing in Kalimantan where the Indonesian Government is constructing its new capital of Nusantara.
"We thus need to enhance our border security also as the border regions between Sabah and Sarawak with Kalimantan will be seeing a rapid increase in social and economic activities," he stressed.
He said the state governments of Sarawak and Sabah had cooperated well with the army in the aspect of border security.
The army needs to coordinate closely with the state authorities to build the new border posts as state land matters are under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak and Sabah state governments respectively, said Adly.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, border security infrastructure improvement projects in Sarawak and Sabah were given adequate attention by the Federal Government, he said.
Allocations of about RM70 mil were channelled by Putrajaya to Sarawak for such projects along its 1,000 km border with Kalimantan, he noted. - The Vibes, September 24, 2023
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