Indonesia, Malaysia Renew Watch Over Critical Sea Lane

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Indonesia and Malaysia have reaffirmed their joint commitment to curbing cross-border smuggling and safeguarding regional economic stability in the Malacca Strait with the launch of the 29th Indonesia-Malaysia Coordinated Maritime Patrol (Patkor Kastima 2025) in Batam on Wednesday.

The annual operation, jointly launched by the Indonesian Customs and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, underscores both nations’ cooperation in strengthening maritime security and maintaining stability along one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

“Smuggling of narcotics, cigarettes, alcohol, textiles, compressed bundles of used garments, tin sand, baby lobsters and human trafficking remains a major threat to both economies,” said Indonesia’s Customs director general Djaka Budi Utama in a statement.

He said this year’s patrol extends to the waters off West Kalimantan bordering Sarawak, as part of a pilot integration with the Joint Task Force aimed at boosting surveillance and expanding joint operations.

“The operation should go beyond tactical patrols and focus on accurate, real-time information sharing to combat smuggling,” he added, noting that smugglers are increasingly exploiting border gaps and differences in customs regulations.

Djaka urged continued collaboration and intelligence exchange beyond Patkor Kastima to strengthen regional security and deepen ties between Indonesia and Malaysia.

For nearly three decades, Patkor Kastima has symbolised both nations’ shared resolve to safeguard the Malacca Strait, one of the most critical strategic maritime routes in Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA