North Kalimantan Border Residents Feel Neglected, Threaten to Move to Malaysia

Residents in Indonesia's North Kalimantan border region are feeling increasingly abandoned by the government, with one legislator warning of dire conditions and potential emigration to Malaysia.

Deddy Sitorus, a member of the House of Representatives from the PDIP faction, described the situation as "increasingly dire" due to a lack of road access. This isolation makes it difficult to obtain basic supplies like food and fuel. Compounding the problem, electricity is available for only about four hours a day, and Sitorus fears it may soon disappear entirely.

"The days are getting more terrifying, why? Because of the lack of road access, we can't get basic necessities, we can't get fuel, electricity is down to an average of 4 hours per day. In another 1-2 months, there might be no electricity left, sir, in the border areas of North Kalimantan," Sitorus stated during a working meeting.

He highlighted the humanitarian crisis, noting that the sick have little chance of survival due to the inability to transport them through dense forests. "If they are sick, they will surely die, sir. It's impossible to carry them anywhere by stretcher through the Kayan Mentarang forest, it's impossible, sir. We are talking about human beings," he said.

The legislator revealed that residents have approached him, expressing their love for Indonesia but threatening to move to Malaysia if their plight is ignored. "They told me, 'We love this country, sir, but if we are continuously neglected, we will just move to Malaysia. What's the point of us continuing like this if we are not cared for?'" Sitorus recounted.

In response, the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, acknowledged the long-standing road access problem in the Krayan region. He assured that the issue would be followed up with the Ministry of Public Works to find solutions for the affected communities.