How Indonesia Addresses Security Threat from Malaysia

Sangata (News Today) - The East Kutai regency administration is planning to build a special air force base in Sangkima.

"An East Kutai air force base in East Kutai will be very effective in strengthening air defense in East Kalimantan besides Sepinggan in Balikpapan and Tarakan," East Kutai Regent Isran Noor said Tuesday.

The project is currently still in the planning stage, and the East Kutai regency administration has already written a letter to the Ministry of Forestry for a land agreement deal with the air force.

"The air force has also made an inspection of the location, and fully agree with the project," Isran Noor said.

He added that East Kutai is very strategic as an air force base as it will serve a permanent military training location in Sekrat village, Kaliorang subdistrict. The government has prepared 27 thousand hectares of land.

"A national vital object is in East Kutai and Bontang city, namely the coal minings of PT Kaltim Prima Coal, PT LNG Bontang and PT Pupuk Kalimatan Timur," Isran Noor said after acting as inspector of ceremony at the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day at his office Tuesday afternoon.

Sangkima airport was formerly a Pertamina airport but transferred to the East Kutai regency administration as a regional asset. But cannot be developed yet pending an official permit from the forestry minister.

We have already sent him a letter, but a replay is still being awaited. If a permit has been granted, the construction will be started next year, he said. Sangkima airport is about 15 kilometers from Sangata, capital of East Kutai regency, in Sangkima village, South Sangata subdistrict, about 1 km from the Lombok Bay recreational center.

"The airport has a 900 meters long runway which may be extended by the regency administration to 2,100 meters," he said.

"We will be directly bordering with Malaysia, so that the regional administration must also be responsible and assist the military in preparing the defense, security and capacity of our people in defending out territorial integrity.

Source : kompas

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