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| West Kalimantan Governor Extends Malaysia Day 2025 Greetings, Pushes Cross-Border Cooperation with Sarawak. |
West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan extended warm greetings to the people of Malaysia on the 68th National Day and Malaysia Day 2025. The message was delivered on Wednesday (Sept 24, 2025) evening in Pontianak, during a ceremony attended by the Malaysian Consul in Pontianak, Encik Azizul Zekri bin Abd Rahim, along with his delegation. Governor Norsan emphasized that the occasion should further strengthen bilateral ties between Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
“On behalf of the Provincial Government of West Kalimantan, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Malaysians. May this moment strengthen our friendship, unity, and long-standing cross-border cooperation,” said Norsan.
The governor highlighted that the geographical closeness of West Kalimantan and Sarawak has fostered strong historical ties in social, cultural, and economic interactions. He expressed optimism that cross-border collaboration will continue to grow in areas such as trade, transportation, healthcare, education, and tourism. One concrete example, he noted, is the opening of direct flights connecting Pontianak with Kuching and Kuala Lumpur.
“Now people can leave in the morning for Kuching or Kuala Lumpur and return to West Kalimantan in the afternoon. This is a great convenience for those seeking medical treatment, doing business, or simply traveling for leisure,” he added.
Governor Norsan also underscored the importance of collective efforts to tackle cross-border challenges, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and migrant worker protection. He stressed that the West Kalimantan provincial government is committed to working hand in hand with all stakeholders to maintain border security and order.
He shared his impression of the Malaysia Day celebration, calling it memorable and historic. “I am truly impressed. This is my first time attending such a grand event since becoming governor. Look behind me — there are four flags: Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, and ASEAN. That symbolizes our unity in diversity,” he said.
Norsan also cited notable cross-border movement between the two regions. Every year, around 400,000 West Kalimantan residents travel to Malaysia, mostly for medical purposes. Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 Malaysians visit West Kalimantan, mainly for shopping and tourism. To balance this flow, the provincial government is currently developing new tourism destinations, including marine attractions with significant potential.
Closing his remarks, Norsan reaffirmed West Kalimantan’s commitment to serving as Malaysia’s strategic partner. “We aim to build a safe, prosperous, and harmonious future for the border region, together with our brothers and sisters in Sarawak,” he concluded.
