KUCHING: The Defence Ministry plans to set up a camp in Bintulu to strengthen the presence of its 31st Border Brigade and First Battalion Border Regiment stationed along the Malaysia-Indonesia border in the state.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said the development of the camp will allow the existing brigade to perform secondary tasks, namely to monitor the dams in Bakun, Murud and Baleh.
"Our main focus here is Bintulu. We are planning to set up a camp there to allow secondary tasks to be carried out at the existing dams.
"We are also planning to set up the Royal Malaysian Navy base there, as there is a need to monitor asset movements within Sarawak and the South China Sea.
"An additional five joint posts and 18 army posts will also be set up at the Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan borders," Hishamuddin said during a gathering ceremony at the Royal Malaysian Air base here today.
He also said there is a need to strengthen relationships with neighbouring countries, namely Indonesia and the Philippines, to ensure that military diplomacy between the countries is safeguarded.