Minister Of Home Affairs Tito: 8 Cross-Border Posts Have Fully Operated

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian in a briefing event to prospective graduates of IPDN for Academic Year 2023-2024 at the IPDN Jatinangor Campus, Sumedang Regency, Friday, July 26. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian reported that eight of the 15 Cross-Border Posts (PLBN) in a number of provinces in Indonesia are currently fully operational.

This was reported by Tito Karnavian to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ahead of the inauguration process for seven Indonesian Integrated PLBNs in North Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wednesday, October 2.

"Currently 15 PLBN have realized, eight PLBNs are complete and functioning," he said when delivering his speech followed by the Presidential Secretariat network, in Jakarta, as reported by Antara.

Tito explained that the construction of PLBN is part of the President's directive through Presidential Instruction Number 6 of 2015 and Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2019, which aims to accelerate infrastructure development at national borders.

Tito reported that the posts that had been fully operational included West Kalimantan Province, namely PLBN Aruk in Sambas Regency, Entikong PLBN, Sanggau Regency, and Badau PLBN Kapuas Hulu Regency.

Then in NTT include PLBN Motaain, Belu Regency, PLBN Motamasin, Malacca Regency, and PLBN Wini in North Central Timor Regency.

Furthermore, Skouw is in Jayapura City, Papua Province, and finally PLBN Sota is in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province.

He explained that since October 21, 2022, the National Border Management Agency (BNPP) has taken various steps to operate the PLBN.

The details regarding PLBN's operational readiness were conveyed by Tito. Among them, PLBN in Serasan, Natuna Regency, is ready for immigration and customs quarantine with a strength of 55 personnel.

PLBN Jagoi Babang in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, is ready with 123 personnel, while PLBN Long Nawang in North Kalimantan has just been completed and is in the process of mobilizing officers.

PLBN Labang di Kabupaten Nunukan Provinsi Kalimantan Utara, pembangunan fisik telah selesai, kemudian sudah siap petugas dari karantina Beakai dan Imigrasi dan total 30 personel. Pelayanan masih manual," katanya.

Several PLBNs, such as Labang and Sungai Mosquito in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, are also ready with adequate personnel, although services are still carried out manually.

In addition, PLBN in Boven Digoel, South Papua, and PLBN Napan are also ready to operate, Tito added.

Tito emphasized the importance of the existence of PLBN to strengthen integration and security at the border, as well as provide better services to the community.

Closing his speech, Tito hoped that the presence of PLBN could accelerate services in border areas and encourage local economic growth.