Indonesia, Malaysia to form joint immigration enforcement task force

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Malaysia on Thursday agreed to establish a Joint Immigration Enforcement Task Force (JIETF) during a bilateral meeting between the countries’ immigration directorates.According to a statement from the Immigration Department of Malaysia received here, the meeting took place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, with the Indonesian delegate headed by Acting Director General of Immigration Brigadier General Yuldi Yusman, while Malaysia’s was led by Director General of Immigration Zakaria Shaaban.The two agencies renewed their agreement to strengthen collaboration in immigration management, border control, and law enforcement to enhance cross-border security and mobility.Indonesia and Malaysia concurred that JIETF is to be a new platform to strengthen law enforcement coordination and intelligence sharing between respective immigration agencies.The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in combating cross-border crime and scam syndicates, promoting humane management and repatriation of migrants, and sharing best practices in the management of inmates and refugees.During the meeting, the two delegates further agreed to improve the facilitation of travel and infrastructure coordination in the Indonesia-Malaysia border areas within the framework of the Border Crossing Agreement (BCA).The Malaysian delegates also notified their Indonesian counterparts about the formation of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) to strengthen border security and management.The two delegates also agreed that the next bilateral meeting will take place in Indonesia in 2026.Indonesia and Malaysia shared over 2,000 kilometers of land border in Kalimantan Island, separating the Indonesian provinces of North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan from the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.Last July, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that Indonesia and Malaysia have discussed plans to simplify cross-border trade and facilitate border crossing facilities at the Indonesia-Malaysia border.