Brunei-Sarawak-East Kalimantan border riddled with ‘rat lanes' - police
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Sarawak police have identified several dirt lanes or jalan tikus between the border of Brunei Darussalam and the East Malaysian state which are allegedly used by smugglers to smuggle contraband.

The discovery was made recently and was reported in the Berita Harian, a Malay language daily.

The dirt lanes were discovered in Limbang district to several border areas in Brunei Muara District as well as between Lawas (Sarawak) and Temburong (Brunei) and between Asam Paya in Miri (Sarawak) and Belait (Brunei).

The Sarawak deputy police commissioner Senior Assistant Commissioner Abang Wahap Abang Julai said there could be more illegal lanes between the borders of Brunei and Sarawak allegedly used by smugglers to smuggle contraband items.

He said such illegal lanes were easy to construct, by just clearing bushes. Some of the lanes have been widened so vehicles as well as heavy trucks could enter too.

"Between the borders of Sarawak and Brunei, and Sarawak and Kalimantan Timur, we discovered at least 22 dirt lanes. There could be more at areas which were claimed by both countries," he said.

He added the economic prosperity experienced by both countries may contribute to the construction of illegal lanes.

"Smugglers saw an easy way to make fast bucks by smuggling contraband items so they cleared bushes to make way for illegal lanes.

"At first the lanes were only walk clearances to their farms but the smugglers extended them to the borders. We must admit, it was hard to close down such lanes. If we closed one, then they would construct another," he said.

He told the Malaysian daily that the smuggling activities also contribute to the high criminal incidence in both countries.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin