Two Months Ahead Of The Indonesian Independence Day At IKN, BNPT Starts Strengthening The Sepinggan Airport Security System

BNPT conducted an assessment of vital objects at SAMS Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. BETWEEN/HO-BNPT RI

JAKARTA - In order to welcome the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) next August, the Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) strengthens the security system of Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport (SAMS) Sepinggan, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan through socialization and assessment.

Head of Sub-Directorate for Security of Vital Objects and Transportation of BNPT RI Colonel Cpl Sigit Karyadi hopes that BNPT assistance can improve and strengthen the special security system in preventing criminal acts of terrorism at SAMS Sepinggan Airport.

"This is considering that SAMS Sepinggan Airport is one of the airport's access to Penajam Paser IKN," said Sigit at the BNPT Regulation Socialization No. 3 of 2020 in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Friday (14/6), as quoted from ANTARA, Tuesday, June 18.

The assessment carried out by BNPT includes securing the outside perimeter, VVIP building, arrival and departure terminals, to receiving domestic and international cargo. The assessment is also carried out on personnel and documents, completeness of security and safety support equipment, and evacuation routes.

Sigit conveyed that the assessment of vital objects and strengthening security at SAMS Sepinggan Airport was carried out by BNPT in carrying out the duties and functions mandated by the Indonesian State Secretariat as members of the security team for the implementation of the Indonesian independence ceremony which will be held at IKN.

Therefore, he hopes that SAMS Sepinggan Airport can improve the security system because it is one of the airports to Penajam Paser Utara.

Meanwhile, General Manager of SAMS Sepinggan Airport Balikpapan Ahmad Syaugi Syahab thought that assessments were very necessary to mitigate the possibility of intruders of acts of terrorism.

"This assessment is very necessary to ensure that the process of the August 17 ceremony at IKN will be safe from terrorists, at least it has been mitigated from the start so that they can know the angles they are about to enter," said Syaugi.

Given that currently Sepinggan Airport is one of the entrances to IKN, Syaugi hopes that cooperation with BNPT can continue to be established in the future to jointly prevent the threat of terrorism in the region.

Thus, he asked for comprehensive support from BNPT to prevent, overcome and arrest terrorists in the SAMS Sepinggan Airport area.

"We have principledly opened the door as much as possible for the presence of BNPT at SAMS Sepinggan Airport," he concluded.