Abstract:

In the Heart of Borneo, the Lun Bawang people are divided by the Malaysia–Indonesia boundary, resulting in distinct but interconnected migration patterns. This note discusses how internal migration within Malaysian Sarawak and cross-border movement from Indonesian North Kalimantan intersect to shape inequality and identity. Rural depopulation in Sarawak’s uplands has left aging communities and threatens traditional livelihoods and cultural preservation. Meanwhile, persistent underdevelopment in North Kalimantan drives many Lun Bawang to seek work in Malaysia, driving cross-border labour flows. These dynamics create an asymmetric interdependence: Indonesian workers fill labour shortages in Sarawak but remain vulnerable in informal roles, while Sarawak’s Lun Bawang depend on this labour yet are wary of a permanent Indonesian presence. Divergent demographic trajectories have emerged: Sarawak’s Lun Bawang villages shrink and age, whereas communities in North Kalimantan remain youthful, bolstered by in-migration, fuelling tensions over land ownership and resources. Ultimately, a colonial-era border has produced contrasting opportunities and national identities that override shared ethnicity, complicating notions of belonging. Overall, the interplay of internal and cross-border migration reinforces inequality while offering new livelihoods, highlighting the complex links between mobility, development, and identity in this borderland.