NUNUKAN (Indonesia): A simpler entry procedure may be implemented for day trippers to Tawau, Sabah from Indonesia, especially nearby Nunukan and Tarakan islands, to help ease congestion at the Tawau jetty.State Secretary Datuk K Y Mustafa said the proposed system, which would be forwarded to the (Malaysian) Federal Government, would be similar to the one for Bruneians entering Sabah and Sarawak.
"The number of day travellers from Indonesia (those who come to Tawau and return the same day) is big with about 3,000 daily. So, there's a need to look into improving the entry process," he said after attending a meeting-cum-dialogue between a Sabah entourage and Nunukan officials chaired by District Officer Abdul Hafid Ahmad.
"But since this is an inter-governmental matter, we have to wait for the final decision by both the Malaysian and Indonesian Governments," said Mustafa.
Abdul Hafid had earlier asked the Sabah Government to consider doing away with the present system of using border pass for Indonesian day travellers entering Tawau since it was "cumbersome."
"We understand there is a need to impose filtration (on the day travellers), particularly with the terrorism threat, but hopefully the process can be made simpler," he said.
During the dialogue, one of the Nunukan heads of department voiced out the frustrations of day trippers from here who had to endure long queues and waiting hours to get their border passes stamped at the Immigration counters in Tawau.
"I pity our nationals...forgive me if I sound harsh but I believe Tawau might not be as prosperous as it is now if not for Indonesian day trippers who come in the day to shop and leave in the evening," he added.
Mustafa, who was accompanied by Sebatik Assemblyman Datuk Dr Patawari Patawe and Tawau Municipal Council President Salsidu Ibrahim, said the Sabah Government acknowledged the matter but unable to decide since immigration is under the Federal Government's jurisdiction.
"But the Sabah Government will submit the proposal to the (Malaysian) Federal Government, which would then bring it up to the Indonesian Government for discussion," he said.
Apart from that, he said the State Government was also discussing with Suria Capital, which owns Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd, to upgrade the old jetty in Tawau for international arrivals, especially day travellers, while turning the present jetty into a domestic landing point.
He said KKIP Communication had also conducted a survey here on the possibility of setting up a system using the card reader machine it had set up at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to record particulars of non-Sabahan Malaysian citizens.
Apart from that, he hoped the proposed border town in Tanjung Arang in Sebatik on the Malaysia side, mooted by Dr Patawari, would be realised soon as it would provide an alternative for day travellers to conduct trading.
However, he said a discussion with the Immigration Department several years ago showed it was not viable to make Sebatik the entry point into Tawau as it might involve double handling and causing inconvenience to travellers, apart from security issues.
"We have considered this but it might not be convenient for travellers having to go to Sebatik first before proceeding to Tawau...it (the border town) would be more like a trading post," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Patawari said the visits of about 31 people comprising senior government officers, businessmen and plantation sector players here showed Nunukan Indonesia was prepared to start doing international trade.
"So, we hope the State and Federal Governments would consider the proposal to develop Sebatik as a border town to ensure parallel developments with the bordering towns in Indonesia," he said, commenting on the ongoing new Nunukan port construction, directly facing Tanjung Arang, which the entourage visited later after the dialogue.
In this respect, if Sebatik is fully developed as a border town having all the facilities established, perhaps then it can be considered by day travellers from Indonesia as an alternative to Tawau.
Earlier, Abdul Hafid said they were ready to discuss the proposal as it would be similar to the one set up at the Kuching-Kalimantan border.
The entourage, which includes Sabah Navy Chief Admiral Mohd Rashid Harun and KKIP Communication CEO Edwin Liew, headed to Tarakan Island Friday where they would meet with its Walikota or City Council President.
