KOTA KINABALU: A Regional Development Authority (RDA) will be set up to manage the new Serudong border township, which is one of the four proposed entry points from Kalimantan, Indonesia to Sabah.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in announcing this, said the proposal for the setting up of the Serudong RDA is expected to be tabled during the 2022 Sabah state budget sitting in December.

       In a statement on Tuesday (Nov 9), he said the Serudong border township in Kalabakan will include industrial, commercial and housing zones as well as other facilities, to be developed around the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) centre.

       “The RDA will be a catalyst for growth at Serudong as the state government is committed to ensure that the border township will be developed as planned in anticipation of major developments that will take place with Indonesia’s plan to move its capital to East Kalimantan,” said Hajiji.

       He added the development of the CIQS centre at the Malaysia-Indonesia border will be funded by the Federal Government as stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during the tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan in September.

       Aside from Serudong, the other entry points are at Long Pasia, Pagalungan and Sebatik.

       On Serudong, Hajiji said that the Sabah-Kalimantan border development is also expected to be among the talking points when Ismail Sabri meets up with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo during his visit to the neighbouring country.

       Meanwhile, Hajiji and Sabah Economic Advisory Council members earlier were briefed on the

       Serudong-Simanggaris (Indonesia) border conceptual plan by Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) Border Town Planning director Mursidi Sapie.

       Mursidi said among the Authority’s functions are to act as the local authority, while overseeing infrastructure, economic and social developments.