MIRI: MP Chiew Choon Man said Miri stands ready to emerge as a leader of regional prosperity and a model of sustainable development paradigms.
In stating this he believes the Feb 14 Indonesian election’s outcome will have a substantial impact on cross border collaborations, trade regimes, and infrastructural connectivity.
Explaining, he said, Miri is situated at the crossroads of major transportation routes connecting Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.
It forms a T-shaped network, with lines extending to Kuching (Sarawak), Brunei, Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), and potentially to Nusantara (Kalimantan) the new capital city of Indonesia.
This unique position enables increased connectivity and integration among these regions, he said in a statement.
“It also serves as a key node in the complex network of regional relations between Sarawak, Sabah and Indonesia’s Kalimantan.”
Chiew expects that an outright victory of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto will have significant implications for the legacy of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his flagship Nusantara project.
The continuity of policies across administrations will be essential to ensuring smooth cooperation and the uninterrupted advancement of developmental agendas, in particular on the relocation of the Indonesia’s capital city, he said.
“At the core of Borneo’s developmental trajectory is the realisation of the Nusantara project’s objectives, which are mainly focused on strengthening sea transportation, upgrading port facilities, and streamlining logistical frameworks,” he said.
Chiew said improved maritime links will foster a conducive environment for intensified cultural exchanges and economic synergies.
The impending relocation of Indonesia’s capital to Kalimantan thus highlights the need to reinforce customs, immigration, and quarantine (CiQ) complexes along the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
“Upgrading CIQ complexes along the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan border is vital, as supported by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Or Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“In conclusion, the electoral mandate of Indonesia’s elections resonates strongly across the corridors of Sarawak and Miri, outlining a path full of transformative possibilities,” he said.
