LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES AT THE INDONESIA-MALAYSIA LAND BORDER

Abstract

Borders between countries define a country's territory. Indonesia has 3,108.3 kilometers of land borders, the longest of which is with Malaysia at 1,881 kilometers. With such a long border, it is inevitable that various crimes will occur across the border between the two countries. Therefore, law enforcement in various crimes that occur will certainly be handled differently from law enforcement in other areas far from the border. This study focuses on law enforcement against crimes that often occur at the border and to reveal the law enforcement system carried out at the land border between Indonesia and Malaysia. The research method used in this study is an empirical juridical approach, which examines how the law works in society. This approach was chosen to observe the implementation and effectiveness of law enforcement in the Indonesia-Malaysia land border area in practice, as well as the interaction between law enforcement officials, the community, and related agencies. The law enforcement process in the Indonesia-Malaysia land border involves a coordinated multi-institutional approach, based on bilateral agreements, and aims to maintain state sovereignty and address transnational crime. The Indonesia-Malaysia land border faces major structural challenges, including a long borderline, difficult terrain, unclear boundaries, and limited infrastructure. Legal and enforcement factors such as inconsistent regulations, limited resources, and suboptimal monitoring mechanisms pose real obstacles. Socio-economic and cultural factors in border communities, such as poverty, underdevelopment, and cross-border cultures, further weaken the effectiveness of law enforcement.