LIMBANG: Brunei deferred its exit and entry charges order, known as Caj Perkhidmatan, for all citizens, residents, and foreigners travelling through its border posts by land from yesterday (Aug 1) to Oct 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said he was notified of the postponement through a letter on July 30 from Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Seri Setia Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Mohd Yusof.
“Sarawak once again thanked Brunei and the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Datuk Seri Setia Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Mohd Yusof for the postponement of the charges.
Awang Tengah (second right) Is seen at the press conference with (from left) Khalthom, Dr Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Denney.
“I received a letter from Datuk Seri Setia Erywan on July 30 on Brunei’s decision to postpone the charges. The Exit Payment and Admissions Order 2020 should be implemented today (Saturday) – Aug 1 but postponed to Oct 1,” he told a press conference.
He said the postponement is to enable internal negotiations and discussions with the Malaysian government to continue to evaluate and scrutinise the matters that he raised through a letter to the Brunei government on July 20.
Awang Tengah said Malaysia, especially Sarawak, greatly appreciates the cordial and close ties between the two countries.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Limbang Resident Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi, and Limbang Immigration chief Khalthom Ahmad.
The Caj Perkhidmatan announced by Brunei’s Ministry of Finance and Economy on July 9 would require all citizens, residents, and foreigners travelling through land control posts or checkpoints in Brunei to pay exit and entry charges of BN$3 per person for a one-way trip and BN$6 per person for a return trip.