KUCHING: Malaysia and Indonesia want negotiations to review the decades-old Border Trade Agreement (BTA) and Border Cross Agreement (BCA) between the two countries to be finalised immediately.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Indonesian president Joko Widodo have called for talks to review the BTA and BCA to be hastened as the agreements will lay down the foundation that will help boost border trade activities between the two countries.
“Both of us have agreed in principle for trade activities at the Entikong-Tebedu (West Kalimantan-Sarawak) border to be resumed once negotiations to review the two agreements are finalised. We hope that matter could be finalised soon.
“We also took note of the request from the Sabah government for (trade activities in) the Serudong-Simanggaris (Tawau-North Kalimantan) border to be opened. This will also depend on the negotiations on the BCA and BTA.
“The opening of these border posts will bring many benefits to the communities living along the border in the two countries,” said Najib and Joko in a joint press conference after the 12th Annual Consultation Malaysia and Indonesia, here today.
Present at the event were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Kong, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg and his Sabah counterpart, Tan Sri Musa Aman.
More than 10 issues including politics, economic development, socio-economy, border security and transboundary cooperation were discussed during the meeting, which was also attended by an entourage of 17 ministers and heads of department from the Indonesian government.
The BTA, enforced since the 1970s, enables Indonesians holding special cross-border identity cards to trade up to RM600 worth of duty-free goods every a month with their Malaysian counterparts. The agreement, however, could not support the present economic activity along the Indonesia-Malaysia border.
On a related matter, both leaders also announced a study to help Malaysia and Indonesia jointly develop high-value agriculture activities and other industries along the Malaysia-Indonesia border areas.
“We are also looking into probably establishing free-trade zones and small and medium-scale industries, which will help to improve the lot of the people living along the border,” said Najib.
Both countries have also agreed to increase the number of joint border posts to enhance security, reduce smuggling activities and prevent threats from terrorism groups along the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
“The increase in the number of joint posts will strengthen security and safety along the border and help in the prevention of transboundary crime,” said Joko.
Both leaders have also agreed in principle to stimulate the halal industry by fixing the middle of next year as the deadline to resolve longstanding issues on mutual recognition on halal certification.
“We agreed that there should be mutual recognition on halal certification and that this matter must be discussed among the respective bodies (in both countries).
“This has been a long overdue issue, which needs to be resolved immediately, to allow more conducive import and exports activities on halal products between the two countries,” Najib said.
Joko added that trade value between Malaysia and Indonesia, in general, recorded a growth of 21 per cent during the first half of this year.
“This is a big achievement for both countries. I would like to also express my appreciation to Malaysia for their continuous support in allowing In
donesia to export our rice products via the Entikong-Tebedu border,” Joko said.