The increasing illegal border crossings by the people of Kalimantan, Indonesia through ‘jalan tikus’ (illegal routes) near Kampung Mongkos and Kampung Mujat worry the residents of both villages and make them feel unsafe.
Although various efforts have been made by the authorities and villagers to curb the entry of these illegal immigrants, these actions do not seem to be feared. Instead, the illegal immigrants continue to encroach the country’s borders despite having to travel through dense forests.
Wanting to find jobs as well as side incomes by smuggling daily essentials such as cooking gas, meat and rice (obtained from Serian) are among the factors that drive them into Sarawak illegally.
Because of their settlements’ proximity to the border near Kampung Mongkos and Kampung Mujat, it only takes the Indonesians about an hour by foot and less than an hour by motorcycle to reach it.
Farm road turns into big road
According to the Kampung Mongkos deputy village chief Gerim Tangge, 62, there are seven or eight villages in Kalimantan near to Kampung Mongkos. Among them are Kampung Segomon, Kampung Kuyak, Kampung Kejeb, Kampung Sabuk and Kampung Berungkat.
He stated that due to these illegal border crossings, the farm road, which was built in 2008 at a cost of hundreds of thousands of ringgit to facilitate the villagers to go to their farms, had now been destroyed.
“Fences, barriers and even trenches, which were built to restrain their movements through the (farm) road, were also damaged.
“The farm road has now become ‘jalan gajah’ (big road) as they often use it to smuggle goods by using motorcycles and pickups.
“Not only do they encroach on the country’s borders, they also endanger the lives of villagers by over-speeding. Sometimes, they carry five cooking gas cylinders on a motorcycle at a time!” explained Gerim.
Mongkos surrounded by ‘jalan tikus’
Kampung Mongkos Relawati platoon leader Norlimah Long, 53, revealed that there were at least three ‘jalan tikus’ and one ‘jalan gajah’, which were the main routes for the illegal immigrants to cross the border near Mongkos.
She said, “They dare to cross the border day or night even as the government tightens the national borders to curb the entry of illegal immigrants during the last movement control order (MCO). We had previously arrested them for smuggling cooking gas cylinders, groceries, air rifles, drugs and even tobacco.”
Encroaching national border
This ‘jalan tikus’ at Kampung Mujat is one of the easiest to use. 
Chin (front) shows one of the ‘jalan tikus’ at Kampung Mujat. 
Among the ‘jalan tikus’ at Kampung Mongkos.
According to a Kampung Mongkos resident, whose house is located near one of the ‘jalan tikus’, the illegal immigrants usually crossed the border at midnight or around 1 and 2 in the morning.
Francis Bigal, 42, said the activity was rampant even during the MCO period.
“They are not afraid to meet villagers. Previously, there were Indonesians who wanted to attack Kampung Mongkos because one of their residents was arrested by the General Operations Force (PGA) for smuggling air rifles.
“Because of this, I hope the authorities will conduct more regular patrols between 1 and 3am to arrest these illegal immigrants,” he added.
Transit point for smuggling of illegal immigrants
Apart from Kampung Mongkos, Kampung Mujat is also an illegal entry point for the people of Kalimantan. A longhouse (located at a ‘jalan tikus’) there is used as a transit point for agents who are smuggling illegal immigrants.
According to former Kampung Mujat village security and development committee (JKKK) member Sibat Agu, 59, the smuggling of illegal immigrants is rampant.
He said that although there were members of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) in their village, they did not have the power to arrest the illegal immigrants.
It is also understood that the ‘jalan tikus’ in Kampung Mujat is one of the easiest to use. He added that during festive seasons like Gawai Dayak, many Indonesians crossed over to Kampung Mujat with no valid passports.
The villagers in Kampung Mujat and Mong Mong Village hope the government will take this issue more seriously.
Illegal activities persist
Because of the rampant illegal border crossings and smuggling activities, the villagers have formed Rela Community Service Centre (PKKR) Mongkos in Kampung Mujat; it comprises16 Rela members from Kampung Mujat, Kampung Mongkos, Kampung Bunan, Kampung Terbat, Kampung Muara Ahi and Kampung Mapu.
With the establishment of the centre, smuggling activities are now under control.
But the 24-hour patrols by the PKKR Mongkos have not been able to completely stop the illegal activities.
According to PKKR Mongkos chief Benjamin Chin, the illegal immigrants seem to know when they are patrolling.
He believes there are spies among the locals who tip off the illegal immigrants.
Lives of PKKR members in danger
A change in the shifts and number of patrolling members by the state Rela headquarters in February this year has made the local Rela members feel insecure and unsafe.
“In the past, every time we had a patrol, we had four members. But now, with eight shifts, we are allowed to have two people on patrol anytime.
“Moreover, we are not allowed to be armed. So every time we encounter more than two Indonesians at the ‘jalan tikus’, we are scared! “Therefore, we hope that the state Rela headquarters can change back the number of shifts like before,” said the PKKR Mongkos chief, who also works with 15 other colleagues.
