Exploring Contemporary Security Issues Near Sarawak-Kalimantan Border

Abstract

Stringent border control is one of the methods to secure national security across the world. Securing the border is essential for both economic and political reasons. In Sarawak, border security is one of the most discussed topics on the social media domain when it comes to state security concerns. Due to the porous Sarawak-Kalimantan border, a worrisome number of illegal activities had been recorded. Throughout the years, cases such as illegal crossings, drug syndicates, kidnapping, auto theft, smuggling, infiltration of illegal immigrants were reported to local authorities. These are among many other cases that highlight the gravity of the security issue near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border. Despite the continuous effort to increase security by Sarawak government through establishments of five new guard posts in Sarawak in 2018, security issues near the borderline is still a great concern. Sarawak is vulnerable not only along its border with Indonesia but also its shore and airspace. This research aims to explore the contemporary security issues near Sarawak-Kalimantan borders and efforts taken by the authorities to minimize security threats along the borderline. Through content analysis of Facebook discourse on security issues in Sarawak and in-depth interviews with eight informants-the findings of this research are hoped to be able to provide more updated data on Sarawak security issues with particular focus on border safety.

The Implementation of One Village One Product (OVOP) Program in Sambas Regency

“…These areas tend to be perceived with a significant and constantly changing movement of cross-border activity, presenting unique regional development problems. For example, the borders between Indonesia and Malaysia offer a compelling research opportunity due to the prevailing security concerns, including the illicit trafficking of drugs, human beings, and other commodities, as well as the perceived dangers to the national identities of both nations (Dewantara et al, 2023;Ishikawa, 2018;Jalli & Sualman, 2020;Karulus & Askandar, 2020;Rusdiono & Rochmawati, 2020;Sudagung & Rezasyah, 2020). Nevertheless, these regions also have a peculiarity in more fluid social relationships because it has similarities ranging from the use of the local language and identity of the family as well as emotional relationships as a large family (Awang et al, 2013;Efriani et al, 2020;Sudagung & Chalid, 2016).…”

“…However, other research has shown that the implementation of good governance can also be abused and contraproductive in the case of China and Indonesia (Aminudin, 2019;Wang & Yuan, 2021). Meanwhile, research on the topic of villages in border studies more often focuses on humans or groups of local people as the primary unit of analysis (Wilson & Donnan, 2012) or the nationalism and security policy to harden the border, which positions the national government as the main actors (Jalli & Sualman, 2020;Karulus & Askandar, 2020;Sudagung, 2021). In addition, most of the studies focused on the national policy which impacted the locals compared to the local government's policy (Azizurrahman, 2014;Bangun, 2014;Djuyandi et al, 2023;Madjid & Setiawan, 2021;Sudagung, 2021).…”