4-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has raised concerns about the use of the Malaysian ringgit by people living on the Sebatik Island border, stressing the need to address this challenge. During a groundbreaking ceremony for the As’adiyah Islamic Boarding School Flats on Sebatik Island, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the national economy at the border to prevent the community from becoming consumers of neighboring countries.
“We should be the ones selling our products to neighboring countries. This is a matter of competitiveness,” Vice President Ma’ruf Amin stated.
However, he acknowledged that if the border community is purchasing products from neighboring countries due to cheaper prices, it presents another problem that needs to be overcome. The Vice President expressed hope that the community would be attracted to buy Indonesian products, particularly those that are halal-certified.
Indonesia has been exporting substantial volumes of products, including fishery items and seaweed. However, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin highlighted the need to enhance the quality of daily necessities to ensure competitiveness in exports.
To address the issue of using the Malaysian ringgit for transactions on Sebatik, North Kalimantan Governor Zainal Arifin Paliwang stated that his administration and Bank Indonesia have collaborated to promote the use of the Indonesian rupiah among the people of Sebatik Island. He emphasized that all transactions must use the rupiah, as it is the official currency of Indonesia that deserves respect.
Currently, several grocery stores in Sebatik are reportedly using the Malaysian ringgit for transactions, with some even quoting prices in both ringgit and rupiah. Governor Paliwang plans to investigate the matter further in coordination with the police and Bank Indonesia.
Addressing the challenges related to currency use on Sebatik Island is crucial in ensuring the stability of the local economy and fostering national pride in using the Indonesian rupiah.
