Three days ago I tried to enter Kalimantan with Bluey. For those that are unaware, Borneo has three countries dwelling in the island which is Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Brunei and Indonesia. Kalimantan is the part of Borneo which is Indonesia.
For the last month while I was back in KL drifting away waiting for the time to past before I could start the Borneo leg, every Sarawakian I chance upon either randomly or friends or friends of friends, I would ask if they had ever made the journey to Pontianak by land. One Pakcik whom I picked up from KLIA airport via GRAB told me yeah its possible and he had done it many years back with his car.
For the last month while I was back in KL drifting away waiting for the time to past before I could start the Borneo leg, every Sarawakian I chance upon either randomly or friends or friends of friends, I would ask if they had ever made the journey to Pontianak by land. One Pakcik whom I picked up from KLIA airport via GRAB told me yeah its possible and he had done it many years back with his car.
With that one statement, it was my only assurance and hope that the crossing was possible.
I rode to the Malaysia-Indonesia border early in the morning from Padawan town. Never in my mind had it occurred that I would be denied entry into Kalimantan. In my head the journey was already done and the challenge was to get there doing the 345km journey in a day through unknown terrain and once there at Pontianak, dig up more information on hidden gems where I could go exploring with Bluey.
The Tebedu-Entikong Border (Tebedu- Malaysia & Entikong – Indonesia) is as far as I know the main international crossing and every other crossing is like a for local only and I had doubts if I could get and proper customs papers for Bluey if I were to go though the smaller ones.
As I reach near the border, I could see many Malaysian and Indonesian cars going to and fro from the border. Seams like a standard crossing and almost too easy. Ride my bike all the way into the immigration & customs building and parked Bluey.
Just to be sure, I asked the random police officer if my bike is ok to cross over to Indonesia. I was directed to the JPJ office (Land Transport Authority) and the guy said NO.
Do you have a letter of permission from MKN ?
(MKN- Majlis Keselamatan Negara – Malaysia National Security Council)
Err .... Takde ... (err ... don’t have)
Do you have Carnet ?
Err .... No ... I have been on that stupid waiting list to get the Carnet since last year (2018) August and to date they still have not contacted me for my turn.
Do you have letter of permission from Indonesia Consular ?
Sigh .... No .....
The officer apologetically said that he could not allow Bluey out of Malaysia. Cars are easy they say, just bring the vehicle ownership card and its a simple procedure to fill up forms, getting insured and going over to Indonesia but for motorbikes its a whole different standard. Usually, the easiest way is by using a Carnet, and the complicated letter of permission were normally for groups of convoys on a tour for bike week or something along that sort.
I politely asked if I could walk over to the Indonesia side to further ask if they would let Bluey in and get information on procedures for future reference. I was allowed to skip immigration, walked over and enquire with Customs Officer on the Indonesia side.
For Bluey’s entry into Indonesia via Entikong Border, there was two ways to go about it said the Indonesian customs officer.
1. Carnet de Passage En Doune (!@#$%^&*)
2. Get a letter of permission from Indonesia Consular in Malaysia and after, apply for permission from Police department of Indonesia at the border, followed by standard customs forms and insurance.
Oh well ... I was definitely not getting into Kalimantan today and Carnet was out of the question since I know that if after one year I don't even hear a word from AAM Malaysia, their waiting list for the Carnet is utter rubbish and getting the Carnet was more of pestering and giving goodwill service to any whim and fancy the staff feels like asking, stroking their ego as they know that your dreams of touring the world are in their hands.
The 2nd part seams more feasible to me, but really not desperate yet to visit Kalimantan so within minutes I had set my mind and headed east to Sri Aman. Original plan was to visit little bits of Pontianak and then return to Sarawak to do the Pan Boneo Highway all the way to Sabah but since I was denied entry, I guess the Pan Borneo Roadtrip has begun.
Traveled on : Aug 2019
I rode to the Malaysia-Indonesia border early in the morning from Padawan town. Never in my mind had it occurred that I would be denied entry into Kalimantan. In my head the journey was already done and the challenge was to get there doing the 345km journey in a day through unknown terrain and once there at Pontianak, dig up more information on hidden gems where I could go exploring with Bluey.
The Tebedu-Entikong Border (Tebedu- Malaysia & Entikong – Indonesia) is as far as I know the main international crossing and every other crossing is like a for local only and I had doubts if I could get and proper customs papers for Bluey if I were to go though the smaller ones.
 |
| Malaysia - Tebedu Customs -Immigration-Quarantine (CIQ) Building |
As I reach near the border, I could see many Malaysian and Indonesian cars going to and fro from the border. Seams like a standard crossing and almost too easy. Ride my bike all the way into the immigration & customs building and parked Bluey.
Just to be sure, I asked the random police officer if my bike is ok to cross over to Indonesia. I was directed to the JPJ office (Land Transport Authority) and the guy said NO.
Do you have a letter of permission from MKN ?
(MKN- Majlis Keselamatan Negara – Malaysia National Security Council)
Err .... Takde ... (err ... don’t have)
Do you have Carnet ?
Err .... No ... I have been on that stupid waiting list to get the Carnet since last year (2018) August and to date they still have not contacted me for my turn.
Do you have letter of permission from Indonesia Consular ?
Sigh .... No .....
The officer apologetically said that he could not allow Bluey out of Malaysia. Cars are easy they say, just bring the vehicle ownership card and its a simple procedure to fill up forms, getting insured and going over to Indonesia but for motorbikes its a whole different standard. Usually, the easiest way is by using a Carnet, and the complicated letter of permission were normally for groups of convoys on a tour for bike week or something along that sort.
I politely asked if I could walk over to the Indonesia side to further ask if they would let Bluey in and get information on procedures for future reference. I was allowed to skip immigration, walked over and enquire with Customs Officer on the Indonesia side.
 |
| Indonesia - Entikong Customs-Imigration-Quarantine (CIQ) Building |
1. Carnet de Passage En Doune (!@#$%^&*)
2. Get a letter of permission from Indonesia Consular in Malaysia and after, apply for permission from Police department of Indonesia at the border, followed by standard customs forms and insurance.
Oh well ... I was definitely not getting into Kalimantan today and Carnet was out of the question since I know that if after one year I don't even hear a word from AAM Malaysia, their waiting list for the Carnet is utter rubbish and getting the Carnet was more of pestering and giving goodwill service to any whim and fancy the staff feels like asking, stroking their ego as they know that your dreams of touring the world are in their hands.
The 2nd part seams more feasible to me, but really not desperate yet to visit Kalimantan so within minutes I had set my mind and headed east to Sri Aman. Original plan was to visit little bits of Pontianak and then return to Sarawak to do the Pan Boneo Highway all the way to Sabah but since I was denied entry, I guess the Pan Borneo Roadtrip has begun.
 |
| Pan Borneo Highway - Towards Sri Aman |
 |
| Pan Borneo Highway - Towards Sri Aman |
#panborneoroadtrip #bordercrossing #tebeduentikongborder #carnet #blurtravels
hey mate I am trying to do the same journey to Pontianak pls add me on WeChat lancelotiboy thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Danny .... unfortunately i do not have wechat .... can always message me here thou may take a while for a reply these days.
DeleteOr drop me your email here and i'll dm you privately