Flood Issues At The Border Will Be A Priority Discussion Of Malindo's Sosek

TANJUNG CELLOR Flood disasters that often occur in Indonesia-Malaysia border areas in North Kalimantan (Kaltara) are one of the important discussions of the proposal to be submitted at the Malaysian Economic Social Forum Indonesia (Sosek Malindo) in 2024.

This was conveyed by the Secretary of the Border Management Agency (BPPD) of Kaltara, H. Abdul Jalil, during the discussion of the Working Paper Group (KK) 3 in the field of Border Security and Management, Thursday, June 27.

Abdul Jalil revealed, there are 5 proposals to be raised in the forums of the two countries.

"One of the issues discussed is the problem of flooding, this flood is the estuary or upstream of which is on the part of Malaysia, while downstream we are Indonesia as an affected region", he said.

It was explained that upstream the river was on the Malaysian side that the forest area was no longer there, they replaced it with plantations so that there was no more water absorption that made the water still able to survive.

"This flood problem is one of the main priorities that must be discussed with the Malaysian side," he said.

"We are grateful that from the Malaysian side, namely the Malaysian KK3 Group, it has agreed that at the meeting of the Sosek Malindo forum, we will discuss forming a joint team for handling floods in the same winged river," he continued.

Abdul Jalil emphasized that the flood problem must be discussed by both countries, especially by Sabah and Kaltara.

"Moreover, flooding at the border was sent from neighboring Malaysia, this could also be the attention of the Central Government between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur," he said.

According to him, the KK3 group will try to perfect the narrative of the proposal in order to be adjusted to persuasive.

"The issue of this flood will soon be followed up and submitted to the forum secretariat in order to bring this proposal to the meeting of 2 delegations of the Malindo Sosek Forum on July 15-19 2024 in Balikpapan," said Abdul Jalil.

Meanwhile, the Head of Lumbis Pansiangan Sub-district, Nunukan Regency, Lumbis revealed that floods that overflowed through the river had long occurred at the border.

"Geographically, the Sembakung river is upstream in Malaysia and almost 50 percent of the river length is in Malaysia, so if the rainfall is quite high in the Nabawan Saput Sabah Serawak area, it is ensured that the Sembakung river will flood," he said.

Lumbis revealed that in one flood immersion, 6 sub-districts were affected, namely Lumbis District, Lumbis Hulu District, Lumbis Pansiangan District, Lumbis Ogong District, Sembakung Atulai District, and Sembakung District.