KUCHING : Sarawak will give a special focus on accelerating the upgrading works of the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complexes along the Malaysia-Indonesia border in the state.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the ICQS needed to be upgraded and developed immediately are Tebedu in Serian, Biawak in Lundu, Bukit Mabong in Kapit and Ba'kelalan in Lawas.
As such, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government is voluntarily assisting the federal government by providing allocations to upgrade three existing ICQS and build one new one.
"I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has helped to set aside RM1 billion in allocation (from the federal government) for infrastructure development at the border.
"The allocation however is not sufficient to develop all the infrastructures needed at the border.
"That is why we want to focus on upgrading and constructing the ICQS first while road infrastructures will be upgraded later due to the relatively high cost," he told reporters after attending the launching ceremony of 'Gabenor Pertama Sarawak, Tun Openg' book here today,
Abang Johari said this when he was asked to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's statement yesterday on the RM1 billion allocation which has yet to be fully utilised by the respective agency.
He added that the state government has agreed to finance half of the cost of the upgrading works for the Tebedu ICQS to ensure it can be completed on time, considering the impact of the development of Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara, on Sarawak.