ABSTRACT
During a 2005 visit to the West Kalimantan border, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced a series of large-scale development initiatives planned along the nation’s border with East Malaysia. This renewed focus on the border was the result of a combination of factors including the economic interests of national and international plantation companies, issues of territorial sovereignty and security, and rising pressure from the international community and neighbouring countries to deal with undocumented labour migration and contraband smuggling. In the words of the President:
For this [plan] to develop, we need to develop a road running parallel to the border. We must close down all [unauthorized border crossings] that often are employed for the undertakings of illegal activities. If this plan goes well tens or even hundreds of thousands of people could be employed in the border area.
(Cited in PKB 2005)