Government passes RM172 million to upgrade ICQS, Sarawak immigration post - KDN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13: Government has approved three construction and upgrading complex projects as well as an immigration post on the Sarawak-Kalimantan border at a total cost of RM172 million, according to Ministry of Interior (KDN).

In a written reply posted on Parliament's website, KDN announced that the project is to upgrade the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, a RM100 million series expected to be completed by January 2029.

"The construction of Serikin, Bau (RM50 million) Post and Immigration Quarters is scheduled to be completed in December 2027 as well as the construction of Melano Bay Post and Quarters, Sematan (RM22 million) is expected to be completed by December 2028," said KDN in response to Datuk Ali Biju's (PN-Saratok) question on the RM1 billion allocation spent by the government to upgrade Sarawak ICQS.

KDN explained that there are five Sarawak border development projects which were also approved under the special allocation of the countrywide border development project amounting to RM1 billion.

According to him, the project includes upgrading and repair work of ICQS Tedungan Complex, Limbang worth RM5.4 million which is expected to be completed in October 2027 as well as ICQS Pandaruan, Limbang (RM1.8 million) which is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

Meanwhile, KDN announced the completion date of construction of ICQS Complex Serudong-Simanggaris and Bantul-Lumbis in Sabah has not yet been set.

According to KDN, the construction of Bantul-Lumbis ICQS approved at a cost of RM38.1 million is currently in the process of acquisition, while the implementation of the construction of Serudong-Simanggaris ICQS still depends on the decision to define the development border point between Malaysia and Indonesia.

For ICQS Bantul-Lumbis, the tender announcement was made on August 26, while briefings and site visits were conducted on September 8. The tender period runs from 23 September to 21 October, with the Letter of Acceptance (SST) expected to be issued on 23 December and owned by the site on 11 Jan 2027.

The ministry said that the completion date of Bantul-Lumbis ICQS can only be determined after the contractor is appointed and the duration of the work is set out in contract documents.

For ICQS Serudong-Simanggaris, preliminary work on the project approved at a cost of RM5 million under the Fourth Rolling Plan (RP4), 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), was completed in October 2024.

However, negotiations between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments regarding the establishment of development border points are ongoing and will determine the direction and details of the next implementation of the project.

KDN also explained that the RM819 million for Serudong-Simanggaris ICQS and RM367 million for Bantul-Lumbis ICQS announced earlier is not the actual amount of expenditure so far.

According to the ministry, the actual allocation and expenditure for each component of the project will take into account the progress of implementation as well as the procurement process that has been carried out. -TVS