'Two-country house' now fully in Indonesia after border demarcation

TAWAU: The well-known “two-country house” at Sungai Haji Kuning on Sebatik Island is no longer a Malaysian tourist attraction following a new Malaysia–Indonesia border demarcation.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy said the site has been confirmed to be fully within Indonesian territory under the new boundary agreed by both countries.

He said Malaysia now retains only jetty facilities at Sungai Haji Kuning as well as areas such as Sungai Melayu and Serudong as a result of the demarcation.

Andi said the boundary was determined through mutual agreement using technological facilities and bilateral accords, with some areas gained by Malaysia and others ceded to Indonesia, including Kampung Sungai Haji Kuning on Sebatik Island.

He said affected residents were given the option to apply for Malaysian citizenship or remain Indonesian citizens, as Malaysian law does not allow dual citizenship and any decision would be subject to established procedures.

The so-called “two-country house” at Sungai Haji Kuning on Sebatik Island gained attention because it sat astride the traditionally understood Malaysia–Indonesia border, with parts of the structure perceived to lie in both countries, making it a curiosity for visitors and a symbol of the island’s unique cross-border geography.

For years, the site drew tourists interested in experiencing a single building linked to two national jurisdictions, reflecting the historically fluid boundary arrangements on Sebatik Island before the recent, jointly agreed demarcation formally clarified the international border.

[Source: Daily Express Malaysia]