Indonesia to Focus on Sei Ular Border With Malaysia

"Doing so will make them suspicious and trigger a chase. So it is best to be accompanied by the [Indonesian] authorities, or if that is not possible, stay put and explain one's situation."

Navigating nature and politics on the Sei Ular

The Sei Ular waterway is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. The lack of border markers make Indonesians navigating the estuary unaware that they entered Malaysian territory, particularly at night.

Also read: Indonesian Military Thwarts Smuggling of Rohingya Refugees to Malaysia 

Their navigational error led them to Malaysian authorities, who would then arrest them for illegally crossing the border.

The last incident of a border crossing occurred on February 10, when the Malaysian Police or Polis Diraja Malaysia's General Operations Force (Pasukan Gerakan Am) arrested eight peope from Nunukan locals for illegally crossing to Malaysia.  

Indonesian authorities in Nunukan ordered speedboat operators to have complete documents and GPS from Android smartphones before they can navigate the river.

They also banned people from plying the Sei Ular at night, except for emergencies. Even for the latter, they urged that the traveler be escorted by Indonesian maritime personnel. 

Nunukan's inhabitants, among them fishermen and boatmen ferrying passengers and goods, have made Sei Ular their source of livelihood, as does their counterparts over the border at the city of Tawau in the Malaysian state of Sabah. 

(Writer: Nunukan Contributor, Ahmad Dzulviqor | Editor: Teuku Muhammad Valdy Arief)

Source:

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/12/065157978/warga-yang-melintas-dekat-perbatasan-diminta-tak-lari-jika-bertemu-aparat