Ringgit Becomes A Exchange Tool On Sebatik Island, Vice President: That's Our Challenge

The vice president laid the first stone for the construction of a flat for students in Pope's Asadiyah, on Sebatik Island, Nunukan Regency, Kaltara, Thursday (3/8/2023). (ANTARA/HO-ADPIM Kaltara)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the use of Malaysian ringgit currency by the people on the border of Sebatik Island is one of the challenges that must be addressed.

"That is one of our challenges," said the Vice President on the sidelines of laying the first stone for the As'adiyah Islamic Boarding School Flats on Sebatik Island, North Kalimantan (Kaltara), Thursday, August 3, was confiscated by Antara.

Another challenge, said the Vice President, is strengthening the national economy at the border so that border communities do not become consumers of neighboring country products.

"Well, we should be the ones who export to neighboring countries. This is a competitive matter," said the Vice President.

According to the Vice President, if people at the border still use other countries' products because they are cheaper, then this becomes another challenge.

"This is a challenge that the government must face, by all of us, and we hope that the role of our halal-certified products will attract consumers in neighboring Malaysia," said the Vice President.

The Vice President said that actually Indonesia has exported large products, such as fisheries to seaweed. However, Indonesia needs to improve the quality of goods for daily necessities, which will have export competitiveness.

"So we can't just complain because why people are still buying, if the quality is better and cheaper, I think that will definitely happen. This is what we hope that the Regional Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance can push forward later," he said.

Meanwhile, related to the use of the Malaysian ringgit currency for transactions in Sebatik, North Kalimantan Governor Zainal Arifin Paliwang said that his party together with Bank Indonesia had actually worked together to carry out proud socialization activities for the use of rupiah on Sebatik Island.

Regarding reports on the use of ringgit currency on Sebatik Island, he said he would check with the police and Bank Indonesia.

"We emphasize that all transactions must use rupiah. This country of Indonesia must respect what we have, must use rupiah currency," said Zainal.

Based on the monitoring of several grocery stores in Sebatik, there are still those that include the selling product price with a nominal ringgit.

There are also those that include two prices, namely in the ringgit and rupiah.

Shop owners invite potential buyers to pay in ringgit or rupiah currency.