Border Towns Rake in Ringgit
The economic situation of Indonesians living around a number of border entry points is showing new signs of life, thanks to an influx of ringgit from neighboring Malaysia. However, the financial prosperity in this region comes with a rise in criminal activity.
January 8, 2002
ABDUL Wahid set out two cash boxes in his souvenir shop in Entikong, located on the Indonesia-Malaysia border in West Kalimantan. One is for payment in rupiah, while the other is for Malaysian ringgit (MR). At the end of the day, after all of the food stalls and restaurants on the border have closed for the day, this businessman from Pontianak happily counts the multifold profits from the sale of wares paid in ringgit.
Wahid's shop sells hat
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