Sarawak police are irked by their Indonesian counterpart's demand for a RM5,000 reward for every Malaysian stolen vehicle found in Kalimantan.

Kuching district deputy police chief Tan Soon Tiong recently said "there was less than admirable cooperation from the Indonesian police".

According to him, the Indonesian police are still holding on to 10 stolen vehicles after the Sarawak police refused to pay the bounty.

The stolen cars are smuggled to Indonesia via what is commonly known as Jalan Tikus (jungle track). Police have identified such routes at Biawak in Lundu, Serikin in Bau, Mongkos in Serian, Pakan in Sarikei, Batu Lintang in Sri Aman and Lubok Antu in Betong.

Based on last year's statistics, Toyotas topped the list of stolen vehicles followed by Proton, Nissan and Honda.

The lower and mid range models usually fall prey to car thieves in isolated areas but luxury vehicles have been reported to be stolen from the owners' homes.

A minister and elected representatives have also been victims of these brazen car theft syndicates.

Tasik Biru state assemblyperson Nanisan Ngusie, whose luxury four wheel drive vehicle was stolen recently, has repeatedly urged the government to close down all the jungle tracks.

"They are not Jalan Tikus anymore but Jalan Gajah" he quipped when speaking to reporters recently.

Sold cheaply

Sarawakians living near the border claim that these luxury vehicles are sold for a song in places such as the Indonesian 'cowboy town' Badau where an upscale Honda CRV would only cost about RM8,000.

"Even villagers are driving CRV in Badau," said a farmer in Lubok Antu.

It is also believed that some of the stolen cars are smuggled out of Sarawak via sea by the syndicates, which State Security Department sources said have global links.

"Most of them would be used by unsuspecting big companies locally or abroad that are looking for second hand four wheel cars at reasonable prices," said one officer who declined to be named.

The syndicates also prey on motorcycles, with an average of three units reported stolen in Sarawak daily in the first half of this year.

"The Indonesians in Badau were riding Jaguh (Malaysian manufactured) motorbike earlier than us in Lubok Antu," noted a shopkeeper in Lubok Antu.

Jimmy Teoh is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.