Endang Rudiatin

Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Indonesia

Ma’mun Murod

Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Indonesia

Hanif Abdurahman Siswanto

Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dessy Iriani Putri

Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Most people in the Indonesia-Malaysia border area have a similar problem, namely the need for more facilities in the transportation sector. Geographical conditions make border crossers more comfortable using sea and river transportation. This paper aims to provide an overview of how smooth border transportation can support the supply chain. The challenge is that the supply chain from the capital or the nearest area is often insufficient due to geographical conditions, and product delivery cannot always be guaranteed. As a result, the price of these goods is higher than the price of goods from the neighbouring country because the shipping costs are lower as the location is closer to the other province that can supply them. This anthropological qualitative descriptive study discovers many transnational socio-cultural characteristics in their cross-border economic activities. This economic activity is bound by the two countries’ borders, regulations, and policies. In the case study of Sebatik Island, building a border transportation system is one of the strategic solutions to support the supply chain of border communities. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, government policies prioritise sea transportation. The results show that when local transportation is smooth, the border area will remain in touch with the provincial government, and the availability of primary products for the Sebatik community does not always depend on neighbouring countries. A smooth supply chain encourages food self-sufficiency at the border.