Kota Kinabalu: July 29, 2026 – Indonesians living in Sabah have been urged to abide by the law and respect local cultural customs – a step deemed vital for ensuring safety, harmony and the continued good relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Consul in Tawau, Dino Nurwahyudin, said his office consistently provides guidance to Indonesian citizens on the importance of complying with both state and federal regulations while in Sabah.
He described this as the consulate’s primary responsibility – to provide services and protection to Indonesian nationals in the state.
“That is indeed our main function – to provide services and protection to Indonesian citizens,” he told the media after a courtesy call on the Sabah governor at Istana Seri Kinabalu on Tuesday.
Dino also expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the Sabah state government and the Indonesian government in providing Community Learning Centers (CLC) since 2011. The programme enables children of Indonesian workers to access education.
He added that the CLC initiative also benefits companies by making workers more productive. Currently, three companies provide CLCs – Sabah Softwoods Berhad, Benta Wawasan Sdn. Bhd., and Sawit Kinabalu.
The courtesy visit also served to inform the state authorities of his appointment as the new Consul in Tawau, which took effect on 9 July. He replaces Aris Heru Utomo, who has retired.
He expressed gratitude to the Sabah government for its Smart Sabah programme, which assists foreign workers and their families in obtaining complete documentation. The programme enables them to work legally in Sabah.
According to Mr Dino, workers must possess an Indonesian passport before their residence and work permits can be processed under the Smart Sabah programme in accordance with stipulated requirements.
Consulate records show that 120,000 Indonesian nationals are registered in their database. The actual figure is believed to be higher, however, given the border location and the fact that many Indonesians reside in areas along Sabah’s east coast, including Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu and Kalabakan.
Source: JAPEN
