KUCHING: Both Sarawak and Indonesia must increase their border enforcement to curb the spread of imported Covid-19 cases, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He said the lack of observation and enforcement in the 500-metre buffer zone on either side of the border had led to the existence of rat trails.
“The 500-metre buffer zone at the border is of great concern to us. Enforcement must be increased in these areas.
“We must ensure our border is sealed because the pandemic has badly affected Indonesia in the last two to three weeks,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday when asked to comment on the negative impact of the rat trails during the pandemic.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, said he had expressed his concern to the Defence Ministry.
“I told them we need federal funding to safeguard our border with Kalimantan.
“It is Malaysian border not only just Sarawak border! Putrajaya must honour its words to safeguard our border!”
On enforcement measures that had been taken to safeguard the border in his constituency, Masing said a General Operations Force (PGA) team had been posted at Ulu Baleh to guard the border in Long Singut and Tapal Megah.
“Thirty personnel have been stationed there for the past two weeks. Our staff from the divisional level State Disaster Management Committee are with these personnel at the border post.
“They will help with the inspections and assess what needs to be done,” he explained.
