The restart of cross-border bus services between West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and Sarawak, Malaysia, which had been suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak, was praised by the Indonesian consul general in Kuching, Malaysia.
Raden Sigit Witjaksono said on Friday in Kuching, Malaysia, that the resumed cross-border bus services will aid in both nations’ economic recovery.
“Thank God, with the support of all parties, the Consulate General in Kuching continues to encourage and make efforts to improve economic conditions, one of which is the opening of land transportation from West Kalimantan to Sarawak, Malaysia, and vice versa that was closed for more than two years due to the impact of COVID-19,” he remarked.
He said, since the border between the two countries was reopened, the consulate general has continued to coordinate with the Sarawak Government to open land transportation crossings.
“Initially, we started with private vehicles and since June-July, we have continued to encourage the opening of (means of) public transportation,” he added.
According to Witjaksono, transport operators as well as people in Sarawak and West Kalimantan have awaited the reopening of public transportation.
“This is certainly very beneficial for both parties, and we hope that everything would run smoothly. Thus, the economy, trade, and tourism of these two countries can recover soon and continue to develop,” he remarked.
On Thursday, September 1, at the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (IQCS) center in Serian, Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin inaugurated the ceremony for the restart of the service.
Lee said that the resumption of passenger bus service was the result of strong coordination between the Sarawak administration in Malaysia and the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching.
He said that during the initial phase, both parties had consented to run cross-border buses five times each week.
The Indonesian transport agency has now given Sarawak-based bus company Biaramas Bus Express five bus operating licences to use on the Pontianak-Kuching route.
In Sarawak, other express bus firms are in the process of requesting licenses to run along the Pontianak-Kuching route.
In return, the Indonesian bus firm Damri Express has received five bus licences from the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak.
In addition to discussing the rapid bus services, Lee indicated that the two nations will also talk about resuming air service between Kuching in Sarawak and Pontianak in West Kalimantan.