LUBOK ANTU. Aug 4 2026: The proposed opening of a cross-border bus route connecting Kuching with Putussibau, West Kalimantan through the Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex is expected to boost tourism, trade, medical and cross-border economic activities between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
Minister for Transport Lee Kim Shin said that the proposal was currently being refined through a working visit to ICQS Lubok Antu to review the readiness of facilities and receive feedback from relevant agencies and bus operators regarding the implementation of the new route.
He said based on information received from the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Musa Derek Sairwona, the journey by land from Putussibau to Pontianak currently takes about 20 hours.
"However, if the route through ICQS Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau and then ICQS Tebedu-Entikong is used, the travel time is expected to be shortened by more than half, thus offering a faster and more efficient travel option to users," he said in a press conference after conducting a work visit to ICQS Lubok Antu yesterday.
Lee said that the ministry also saw potential in developing Kuching as a regional transit hub capable of connecting the air and land transport network between Sarawak and Indonesia.
He said, with the direct flight service between Kuching and Jakarta and the participation of AirBorneo in the future, the cross-border bus route will form a more integrated transport ecosystem.
"Passengers from Indonesia can continue their journey through Kuching International Airport to various destinations, while passengers arriving in Kuching can also continue their journey to Kalimantan via cross-border bus services," he said.
According to him, the two bus operating companies, namely Biaramas Express from Sarawak and DAMRI from Indonesia, have expressed their readiness to commence operations as soon as all approvals from the relevant authorities are obtained.
In order to speed up the implementation of the project, he shared that the Sarawak Ministry for Transport will submit an official letter to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to request that the approval process for the proposed cross-border bus route be expedited.
Also participating in the visit were Deputy Minister of Transport (MOTS) Dr Jerip Susil, MOTS Permanent Secretary Wong Hee Sieng, Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching Musa Derek Sairwona, Sri Aman Division Resident Mahra Salleh and other dignitaries
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