KUCHING: The proposed Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex project in Serikin, Bau, near here, will kick off soon, said Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine), Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
The Tasik Biru assemblyman said the project site handover will be held tomorrow (10 Dec) to begin implementation.
He added that the project is expected to be completed in two years, and hoped that by 2008 the ICQS, located at the Malaysia–Indonesia boundary in Serikin, would be ready.
“So we want the contractor who has been awarded the contract to complete the work on time, and hopefully there will be no problems.
“The land has been compensated; now it is time for the implementation process,” he said after launching the upgrading project for the main water pipeline stretching from the Bau junction traffic light to the Pejiru Booster Station today.
Earlier, Henry attended a briefing on the progress of projects to be implemented in his constituency and Bau as a whole, including the proposed ICQS project, at the Bau District Office.
He said the proposed border post in Serikin will be a full-fledged ICQS, a major border checkpoint with comprehensive facilities for screening people and goods, designed to match the standards of the one on the Indonesian side of the border.
“The ICQS on the Indonesian side, located in Jagoi Babang, is already fully operational, waiting for us to open ours in Serikin. So, we have to be on par with them,” he said.
Henry believed the implementation of the ICQS in Serikin was very timely, given that Serikin has long been a well-known border town market in Sarawak.
He noted that the Serikin border town market has become synonymous with cross-border trade, as anyone coming to Sarawak would also visit Serikin.
According to him, the ICQS in Serikin is more than just a border facility serving traders and travellers – it is a strategic asset with direct economic significance for the entire Kuching Division.
He emphasised that the ICQS will become a vital catalyst for regional development, strengthening cross-border commerce, tourism, and security management.
“So, this ICQS is not only significant to Bau but also to the whole of Kuching itself, as the gateway to Kuching is via Bau.
“Compared with other gateways, Bau is the nearest to Kuching,” he said.
The Serikin border town market – popular among visitors from Kuching and beyond – has long attracted those seeking local handicrafts, textiles, and traditional goods.
With proper facilities and enforcement provided under the ICQS system, Henry said the area can now be systematically developed into a more organised commercial zone.
He added that the ICQS complex also strengthens national security and safeguards public health by ensuring proper inspection of goods and individuals entering the state.
This, he said, is crucial as cross-border movement continues to rise due to increasing tourism and economic exchange.
Overall, the ICQS in Serikin is expected to play an increasingly significant role in shaping Kuching’s economic landscape, contributing to long-term growth while reinforcing Malaysia’s border presence in the region.
