THE change in government in May has put on hold a plan to upgrade the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Tebedu at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, the state assembly heard today.

Deputy Chief Minister James Masing said the Tebedu crossing is an entry point for Indonesians.

Masing, who is also state infrastructure, development and transport minister, said the Pakatan Harapan government has not given the green light to a decision reached last year between the previous Barisan Nasional administration and state government to jointly finance the upgrading works on a 50-50 basis.

“The proposal is subject to further deliberation by the federal government.”

He said the Home Ministry set up two committees to review the plan after it was announced by former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on December 28.

“A paper has been submitted to the cabinet for the provision of the facility. The decision on joint financing between the federal and state governments was agreed to by the chief minister (Abang Johari Openg).”

Masing is appealing to the federal government to approve and speed up the upgrade so that the complex is “on a par” with, if not better than, the Indonesian facility on the opposite side in Entikong.

He said the Entikong ICQS Complex has “modern facilities, and is highly advanced compared with the existing Tebedu ICQS”.

“With the excellent bilateral relationship between Sarawak and the West Kalimantan provinces of Indonesia, it will benefit both sides, in terms of economy, tourism and security.

“The upgrading of the said ICQS Complex will also revive the Tebedu inland port, and foster cross-border trade and tourism between Indonesia and Malaysia, in particular, Sarawak.” – November 13, 2018.