Furious Building Rp200 M Stalled, Residents Seal PLBN Sebatik: Don't Just Be Ceremonial

NUNUKAN Indonesia's border atmosphere Malaysia on Sebatik Island is heating up. Hundreds of residents and youths held a demonstration in front of the Sebatik State Border Post (PLBN), Saturday, October 4.

The crowd demanded that the government immediately function the PLBN building which cost more than Rp. 200 billion but has not functioned until now.

The peak of residents' disappointment was shown by the sealing of the PLBN gate using banners and posters containing strong criticism of central officials, including Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya and member of Commission II DPR RI Deddy Sitorus who some time ago visited Sebatik.

One of the coordinators of the action, Dedy Kamsidi, said that the visit of central officials so far was only ceremonial without certainty. "There is no positive value. Residents are only given promises, not solutions," he said.

The same thing was conveyed by Isyak, a representative of the Sebatik youth. He called the sealing of this gate a real symbol of public disappointment. "We will seal it until there is certainty. The border children want to be heard, not just watched," he said.

This action received support from members of the Nunukan DPRD for the Sebatik electoral district, including Andi Mulyono, Ramsah, Nadia, Hamsing, and Firman.

According to Andi Mulyono, the neglect of the Sebatik PLBN is a tangible form of waste of state money. More than Rp200 billion has run out, but there are no benefits for the people. President Prabowo must immediately step in and reprimand the relevant ministries," said Andi.

He even encourages the legal process if it is proven that there are parties who are negligent in planning and implementing development. "Don't let people's money just become a stalled project," he said.

The sealing will certainly continue until the central government provides an official answer regarding the fate of the Sebatik PLBN which until now only stands majestically without function.

The sealing will certainly continue until the central government provides an official answer regarding the fate of the Sebatik PLBN which until now only stands majestically without function.