BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug 12 – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the reporters at the end of his visit to Brunei at Brunei International Airport on Tuesday that the operations of the entrance at the border of Malaysia and Brunei are now open from 6 am to 10 pm will be extended until 12 at night.
“It is the result of a mutual agreement between him and the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at a meeting here Tuesday. In terms of (operating hours) entrance now, there are difficulties among people, whether from Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia or Malaysia to Brunei. Period of the opening at the entrance only up to 10 nights,” said Najib.
“My lord and I have agreed to extend until 12 pm so that relations between the two countries run more smoothly again,” he said. He did not say when the date of the extension of opening hours at border entry points is to take effect. He said the study will also be undertaken to facilitate travel between Brunei and Sabah and Sarawak due to the passport needs to be stamped many times as there are many entry points on the borders of the two countries.
Earlier, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, which is the main agenda of the Annual Consultation Leader for the 19th time, at the Istana Nurul Iman here. The meting of the Najib and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah lasted one hour and 15 minutes. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of documents between the two countries.
Besides that, there were also present at the ceremony were Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Further details on the meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said Najib also agreed to provide four Black Hawk helicopters to apply to the Ministry of Defence.
“My lord and confirm this would be implemented. This will be followed later by Hishammuddin as the Minister of Defence. Co-operation in defense (Malaysia-Indonesia) are at a good level,” said Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. In the same time, the Prime Minister also said that in the matter of defense, Malaysia has established a “sea-based platform” in the waters of Sabah, and Brunei, especially the armed forces can create a common platform in the country’s waters.
Najib said the meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, the two sides also agreed that fishermen who do traditional fishing activities in the area will not be prevented from doing so if they belong to the territorial waters of the two countries. He said that they do not know the area (waters), Malaysia and Brunei. He added the two countries will also continue its efforts to determine the land boundary signs in areas still not finalized.
On the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway linking Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei are expected to be completed in six years, Najib said the Brunei government will be to plan ahead so that the highway through Switzerland will have additional basic facilities for the comfort of road users later.
He said that the relationship over time between the two countries will continue to be the basis for moving forward and improving what has worked, in addition to searching for new areas of cooperation can be explored and shared between Malaysia and Brunei. In terms of ASEAN, he said Sultan Brunei declared that the country would continue to support Malaysia as Chairman of ASEAN this year.
“In the complex and sensitive issues such as the South China Sea and claim overlapping areas, national unity involved mainly the ASEAN countries that claim is very important. (Via) ASEAN Unity we make sure we resolve this issue through negotiations and on the basis of principles that have been sealed in “declaration of conduct ‘. We are in negotiations will guarantee the South China Sea as an area of peace and freedom that can contribute to the prosperity and stability of the region,” he said.
