Indonesia and Malaysia agree to reactivate border posts closed due to COVID-19

In a significant development aimed at strengthening their bilateral cooperation, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to reactivate 14 border posts that were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This agreement was reached during the 43rd General Border Committee (GBC) Malindo meeting held at a hotel in the Kuningan district of South Jakarta on Thursday (12 Oct).

The GBC Malindo meeting, an annual routine that serves as a platform for facilitating dialogues between the two nations, particularly to enhance cooperation in the border region, was led by Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, and Malaysia’s Minister of Defense, Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.

“We have successfully reactivated the joint border posts between the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) after the COVID-19 pandemic response,” stated Prabowo during a press briefing on Thursday (12 Oct).

The details of this agreement include seven border posts in Indonesia and seven others in Malaysia.

In the course of the GBC meeting, both Prabowo and Mohamad emphasized the need to enhance cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia to address the challenges and dynamics of the two countries’ border regions.

Prabowo stated, “Together, we are committed to maintaining peace, security, and stability along our shared border.”

Prabowo also highlighted the successful joint patrols conducted by Indonesia and Malaysia through the coordinated patrol mechanism. This initiative aims to combat various cross-border crimes that threaten the security and stability of the border region.

Furthermore, Prabowo expressed his intention to engage in discussions with Malaysia regarding the potential addition of more border posts. Currently, all the existing border posts are situated in Kalimantan.

During the same event, Mohamad affirmed Malaysia’s determination to strengthen its relationship with Indonesia. “We are committed to elevating this good relationship to maximize our cooperation,” said Mohamad.

The Indonesian and Malaysian armies conduct joint patrols at border posts in West Kalimantan. (Photo: antaranews.com)

Additionally, the 43rd GBC Malindo meeting witnessed the launch of the “50th GBC Malindo” book.

This publication documents the history of the GBC Malindo’s meetings and achievements over the past five decades, illustrating the cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in addressing various challenges and threats.

The meeting also determined that the 44th GBC Malindo meeting will be held in Malaysia next year.