Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia called attention to social and economic issues in border regions during the 38th Malaysia-Indonesia (Malindo) Socioeconomic Forum held in Pahang, Malaysia, the Home Affairs Ministry has informed.
"This session focused on social and economic issues (on) which discussion had been postponed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discussed new issues that will become concerns in the future," the ministry's Regional Administration Director General, Safrizal, said in a statement issued here on Saturday.
The official, who led the Indonesian delegation at the event on Thursday (October 19), said that the Malindo socioeconomic cooperation has been fostered for 38 years and has resulted in several joint statements aimed at improving the welfare of people in the border regions.
One of the agreements is related to the development of a dry port route at the Entikong-Tebedu integrated cross-border post (PLBN) to support the economic activities of people living on the border as well as the holding of the 2019 Tour de Malindo event.
Furthermore, the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia are currently striving to reach agreements in several fields, such as transportation, health, social affairs, culture, tourism, and sports, Safrizal noted.
"The socioeconomic cooperation of Malindo can produce concrete achievements and results that will directly benefit the people inhabiting the border regions of the two countries," he said.
During the forum, both governments compiled the issues into several working papers, including one pertaining to the plan to establish a committee that will be tasked with formulating standard operating procedures for the repatriation of corpses.
The two parties also formulated a working paper regarding the imposition of non-tax revenue on Malaysian vehicles passing through Entikong, Aruk, and Badau PLBNs.
Indonesia also proposed the establishment of a PLBN connecting Malaysia's Serudong and Indonesia's Sei Menggaris, Safrizal said.
"Malaysia's waters around the Melano Bay can be designated as a conservation zone, considering its proximity to the coastal region of Temajuk Village in Sambas District, West Kalimantan Province," he added.
He expressed the hope that the forum would further solidify the brotherhood between the countries so they can reach joint solutions to prevailing social and economic issues in border regions.
The 38th Malindo Socioeconomic Forum concluded with the signing of the draft of the results of the discussion by the Indonesian Home Affairs Ministry and the Malaysian National Security Council.
The Indonesian delegation at the forum consisted of officials from the Home Affairs Ministry, the National Border Management Agency (BNPP), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and the provincial governments of West Kalimantan, Riau, and Riau Islands.
Related news: RI, Malaysia commit to resolving border dispute, Ambalat question
Related news: Indonesia, Malaysia reactivate 14 joint guard posts in border areas
Related news: Indonesia to bring up three issues at Sosek Malindo meeting
