KUCHING: The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, will conclude his three-year term at the end of April and return to Jakarta on May 1.
In appreciation of his contributions, Sarawak’s Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, hosted a courtesy visit with Raden at his office yesterday, commending him for his instrumental role in enhancing cross-border cooperation between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
“Pak Raden has been instrumental in strengthening cross-border cooperation, especially in the area of transportation,” said Lee.
Among the notable achievements during Raden’s tenure was the reintroduction of the Kuching-Pontianak cross-border bus service following the COVID-19 pandemic.
This service has grown in popularity, now operating twice daily via Indonesian operator DAMRI and Sarawak’s Biaramas.
Building on this momentum, Raden also initiated efforts for a proposed Kuching-Singkawang bus route.
While initial operations included border-only stops, the groundwork laid by Raden has enabled the Sarawak Transport Ministry to forward the proposal to the Federal Transport Ministry.
Approval is expected during the upcoming BIMP-EAGA meeting later this year.
“Although Pak Raden won’t be here to see the launch of the Kuching-Singkawang service, his contribution laid the foundation for this cross-border initiative,” Lee noted.
Raden also facilitated cross-border site visits to Pontianak, Singkawang and Sambas involving both Sarawak and federal officials, promoting intergovernmental cooperation and route planning.
His efforts extended to air travel, where he advocated for the reinstatement of the Kuching-Pontianak air route, and helped coordinate meetings between Sarawak officials and airport management in Pontianak and Singkawang.
Additionally, he supported the development of the Serikin-Jagoi Babang ICQS (Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security) Complex, a project expected to shorten travel time to Pontianak by about an hour upon completion.
“My ministry will follow up on the construction of the Serikin ICQS.
“On behalf of my ministry, I extend my sincere appreciation to Raden Sigit Witjaksono and his team in Kuching for their steadfast support and cooperation,” said Lee.
In his farewell remarks, Raden expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Sarawak government and the Ministry of Transport Sarawak for their warm collaboration, noting that while his time in Sarawak felt short, it was marked by impactful progress in transport connectivity.
