Close bilateral cooperation vital to check smuggling activities

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Toh speaks at the press conference.

KUCHING: Close cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia is crucial in order to put a stop to the smuggling activities along the Sarawak-Indonesia border.

Speaking at a press conference after the opening ceremony of ‘Keris Kartika Malaysia and Indonesia Exercise’, First Infantry Division commander Major General Dato Toh Choon Siang said that smuggling activities along borders happen in countries that share common borders.

“It is impossible to eradicate smuggling activities completely, he said adding what we can do is reduce the incidence of smuggling to a more acceptable level.

He agreed that the close proximity of oil palm plantations to the border area is being taken advantage of by smugglers to carry out their illegal activities.

Thus, Toh said that it is important to have a close relationship and cooperation with the Indonesian National Armed Forces so that such activities can be monitored and controlled.

Compared to the smuggling of daily necessities along the border, he said the authorities are giving serious attention and efforts to check the smuggling of drugs and cases of illegal entry along the border which they hoped can be prevented from happening altogether.