BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & GILLVEN MIXCOLLIN
KUCHING: The notion of establishing a rail link between Bintulu Port and Nusantara, the new capital of Indonesia, holds promise, but requires meticulous planning and cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia, says Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
While acknowledging the potential benefits, particularly from a tourism standpoint, he stressed the necessity of mutual understanding or agreement between both nations for the project’s realisation.
“Because the project would involve two borders, which is the borders of Sarawak and Kalimantan.
“The way I see it, it helps us to promote Sarawak and Kalimantan. However, one must understand that we are very protective of our border, as we have our own procedure for foreigners to enter our border.
“If it is possible for the state and federal government to fund the project, I would say, why not?”
He was speaking to the media after launching the Sago Incubator programme at The Hills shopping mall here on Monday (March 25).
He further stressed the importance of thorough planning and financial backing for the project’s success, envisaging long-term benefits for both countries.
Earlier reports said that Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian had raised the prospect of the project, envisioning a railway line connecting the port with Nusantara.
This proposal stemmed from the recognition of Bintulu Port’s status as the nation’s most lucrative port with substantial growth potential.
“From Bintulu Port to the new capital of Indonesia, Nusantara, it is only a few hundred kilometres.
“So, with the high-speed railway like in China, people can arrive in Nusantara from Bintulu in three hours,” Dr Sim noted recently.
