LUNDU: With the country’s borders opened since entering the endemic phase, both locals here and their counterparts from West Kalimantan are delighted to be able to travel back and forth.
At the Biawak Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, many gathered as they get ready to cross over.
Not surprisingly, more Indonesians are coming in and New Sarawak Tribune spoke to a few of them.
Aboy and Johnny Lee, both from Singkawang, West Kalimantan, are some of the many drivers about to exit Biawak ICQS into Aruk ICQS.
Aboy said he had been driving his compatriots from Singkawang to Kuching, mostly for medical treatment at the private hospitals in Kuching.
“On average per month, I drive to and fro three to four times. So I know the roads and the process of crossing the border (well).
“I send them to private hospitals in Kuching because the healthcare (in Sarawak) is high quality, that is why my customer wants to go across,” said Aboy.
Johnny concurred, adding: “Price does not matter, (healthcare) service is more important (to Indonesians) because they want what’s best for their health.”
“There are times I go back and forth six times a month to send my customers to the hospitals. That is (the reason) why they come down to Kuching mostly,” he explained.
New Sarawak Tribune also met some Indonesians returning home after three years in Sarawak, unable to do so during the pandemic.
One of them is Y Karina from Kampung Sebujit in the Bengkayang Regency (near the Serikin border in Bau).
She shared that she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and was happy to go home.
“After three years, I will be able to go back to my village. I’m going back to West Kalimantan via Biawak ICQS because I need to apply for a visa to be able
to cross into Bengkayang.
“I live in Kampung Apar, Bau actually and am married to a local here. I have two children as well who go to school in Sarawak.
“So, I am very happy that I will be able to see my family later. There is no connectivity so we don’t use phones to communicate with each other.
“I really miss going back to the village and seeing how my parents and relatives are,” said Karina before heading off to Aruk.
While waiting at the border, a lecturer from Tanjungpura University, Dr Ida Rochmawati, and her family also spoke to New Sarawak Tribune. They were on their way to Kuching for holiday.
She said she had visited Kuching many times, mostly coming here for the food and also for shopping.
“Kuching has a lot of shopping malls and also the food is very different, and also we would go sightseeing.
“I cannot recall how many times I have visited the city. The longest we stayed in Kuching was three days.
“The travel experience is very much similar in Sarawak and in West Kalimantan, which is good.
“The time taken from Singkawang to Kuching is short compared to going from Pontianak through Tebedu ICQS and then to Kuching, which is longer.”
For whatever reason or purpose, many travellers were glad that they are now able to come to Sarawak and enjoy their time.
