BNPP RI Accelerates Space Arrangement of OBP Area to Ensure Security in Border Areas

The Indonesian-Malaysian border post in Sebatik, North Kalimantan. (Special)

JAKARTA - The National Border Management Agency (BNPP) of Indonesia through the Assistant Deputy for Border Area Space Planning (PRKP) held a forum on Planning for Border Area Space Planning in the former Outstanding Boundary Problem (OBP) area of Simantipal, Sebatik Island, and the Sinapad River segment.

This cross-agency forum is a strategic step to accelerate certainty in arranging space as well as handling the social and economic impacts of border communities in Nunukan Regency.

Assistant Deputy PRKP BNPP RI, Ismawan Harijono said, the forum serves as a coordination room to align perceptions, consolidate policies, and collect data-based input in planning the border area spatial planning.

"This coordination aims to align the national spatial plan with the spatial plan of border areas, provinces, and districts/cities, especially in former OBP areas such as Simantipal, Sebatik Island, and the Sinapad River segment," said Ismawan, Saturday, April 18, 2026.

He said that Sebatik and Simantipal islands were the main focus of arrangement due to changes in territorial boundaries which directly affected the area and use of space.

On Sebatik Island, the change in the area has an impact on 64 areas of land owned by the community and government with a total area of approximately 4,971 hectares. The land of companies, individuals, and the royal party with an area of 127,336 hectares is still state land and requires clarity of management.

"This condition triggers various problems, ranging from land security, palm oil theft, the prevalence of illegal cross-border routes, to the incomplete determination of land status that has been submitted by the village government to the district government," he said.

He also has directly reviewed the area of the former OBP of Sebatik Island. From the results of the review, a number of strategic points for proposed development were identified.

BNPP RI continues to encourage the acceleration of the realization of the profit replacement as well as the development of priority basic infrastructure, including the provision of alternative roads that do not cross the borders of neighboring countries, the preparation of land for final disposal (TPA), and the improvement of connectivity between settlements.

Ismawan said that it was important to strengthen the functions of border defense and security through the optimization of defense areas, the construction of fences or border forts, and the addition of integrated security posts to suppress illegal land and sea routes.

"The construction of strategic border crossing posts, such as in Aji Kuning, needs to be accelerated so that supervision increases and public services for border communities are more optimal," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Nunukan Regency Border Management Agency, representing the Nunukan Regent, Robby Nahak Serang, said that Nunukan Regency has a strategic position because it is directly adjacent to Tawau, Malaysia.

"Border areas are not only about the border line, but also about state sovereignty, defense and security, and people's welfare," he said.

According to him, the development of border areas must be oriented towards the prosperity of the community while remaining within the corridor of the respective parties' authority.

"The limitations of infrastructure and the weak strengthening of the economic sector can be a gap in the emergence of various problems, including the potential for border shifts, smuggling, and transnational crime," he said.