Budget 2027: Reopening of the Bedu-Antikong route has been accelerated

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9: Malaysia and Indonesia agree to expedite the reopening of the Tebedu-Entikong trade route.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the approach was to launch cross-border trade activities between Sarawak and Borneo.

"The road infrastructure continues to be upgraded at the Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan borders to launch a two-way movement", he said while presenting Budget 2027 in the Lok Sabha today.

He said the country's borders have the potential to be a new gateway to prosperity through efforts to boost trade, attract investment and create high-value employment opportunities, especially for young people.

In related developments, Malaysia-Singapore economic cooperation through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) recorded an investment of RM132 billion from 2025 to June 2026.

Anwar said that he and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will launch the master plan and blueprint of JS-SEZ by the end of this year.

"Nexus Sedenak has the potential to become a new industrial hub in the northern part of JS-SEZ, with an investment potential of RM12 billion and the creation of 45,000 jobs.

"To support the development, roads from Sedenak intersection will be upgraded, in addition to provision of facilities connecting the area with major ports and regional trade networks.

"The government has also set up a Special Task Force through the Queen Bee approach to coordinate cross-agency negotiations to attract strategic sector leaders to invest in JS-SEZ", he said.

In addition, Anwar said the cross-border financing framework will be developed through cooperation with Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) to facilitate financing and transactions in various currencies. - TVS