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| Cornelis delivered a fairly sharp critique of the situation. Doc. the author. |
Cornelis, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives representing West Kalimantan’s Electoral District I, highlighted a fundamental issue reflected in a news video showing long lines of vehicles waiting for fuel in Sambas Regency ahead of the Eid al-Fitr
Cornelis delivered a fairly sharp critique of the situation. A news segment from the program Liputan 6 captured the phenomenon of long vehicle queues at a gas station in Sambas, West Kalimantan.
Motorcycles and cars could be seen stretching along the road, waiting their turn to refuel with Pertalite gasoline.
Some vehicles reportedly waited more than four hours before finally reaching the pump. The situation prompted Cornelis to raise a pointed question:
“Is this a genuine problem, or has it been deliberately created?”
Cornelis then added a comparison with the past. "When I was governor, we never had problems like this.”
According to Cornelis, the long queues shown in the video signal deeper issues in the management of energy distribution in the region. He openly questioned whether the fuel shortage was purely logistical or the result of systemic failure in the supply chain.
The remark refers to the period when Cornelis served as Governor of West Kalimantan from 2008 to 2018.
During those years, fuel distribution was reportedly maintained through coordination among the provincial government, security forces, and energy distribution operators.
The current situation therefore raises a larger question: why do fuel shortages still occur, especially during major travel seasons such as the days leading up to Eid?
Vehicles Lining Up at Gas Stations
The footage shows a stark picture of conditions on the ground.
Queues of vehicles stretch far down the road leading to the fuel station. Dozens, possibly hundreds, of motorcycles form long lines along the roadside. Private cars and commercial vehicles are also mixed into the queue.
Traffic moves slowly. In some cases it nearly stops. Drivers wait patiently, sometimes for hours, hoping to reach the pump.
Motorcycles dominate the line. This reflects a broader transportation reality across many regions of Indonesia, where motorcycles remain the primary mode of mobility for millions of people.
Situations like this typically occur when fuel supply fails to keep pace with rising demand. When the stock at fuel stations becomes limited while demand spikes, long queues become inevitable.
In the days leading up to Eid, mobility across Indonesia increases dramatically. People travel long distances to return to their hometowns, visit relatives, or conduct business activities connected with the holiday season.
Commercial activity also intensifies. The distribution of essential goods becomes more frequent and more urgent.
All these activities require transportation energy. As a result, fuel consumption rises sharply.
If supply preparation is inadequate, scenes like the one recorded in Sambas quickly emerge.
Factors Behind the Fuel Shortage
Fuel scarcity in regions such as Sambas is usually driven by several overlapping factors.
The first factor is a surge in demand. In the days leading up to Eid, fuel consumption typically rises significantly due to increased travel and economic activity.
The second factor involves logistical distribution. Border regions like Sambas are located relatively far from major fuel depots and distribution terminals. If deliveries from supply hubs are delayed, stocks at local gas stations can run out quickly.
A third factor is panic buying. When people hear rumors that fuel may become scarce, some individuals attempt to purchase more than their usual needs. This behavior accelerates the depletion of available supplies.
A fourth potential factor is the misuse of subsidized fuel distribution. In several cases across Indonesia, subsidized gasoline has been diverted for resale or stockpiling, distorting the intended distribution system.
The news video itself does not explain which factor is most dominant in the Sambas case. However, the long queues clearly indicate an imbalance between supply and public demand.
In situations like this, strict oversight of distribution channels becomes critical to ensure that fuel actually reaches the people who need it most.
Social Impact and the Importance of Energy Management
Long fuel queues create more than inconvenience. Their effects ripple across multiple sectors of daily life.
First, they disrupt public mobility. People who must wait for hours to refuel may arrive late for work or fail to complete important daily tasks.
Second, the situation causes economic losses for transportation workers. Motorcycle taxi drivers, delivery drivers, and traveling vendors depend heavily on their vehicles. Time spent waiting in line translates directly into lost income.
Third, shortages can disrupt the distribution of goods. Logistics vehicles require fuel to transport food and essential commodities. When fuel supplies tighten, supply chains can slow down as well.
Fourth, long lines can create social tension at gas stations. When queues grow longer and tempers rise, disputes can break out—especially if drivers attempt to cut the line or ignore queue order.
For these reasons, the management of energy distribution is a critical responsibility. Regional governments, regulatory authorities, and energy operators must ensure that fuel stocks remain sufficient, particularly during high-mobility periods such as the Eid holiday.
Cornelis’s statement and questions, prompted by the video from Sambas, ultimately serve as both criticism and reminder. Energy distribution is not merely a logistical issue.
It is closely tied to social stability and the everyday well-being of the public.
If fuel supply management can be handled effectively, situations like the long queues seen in Sambas should not need to occur again in the future.
The Impact of Fuel Scarcity on Tour and Travel in Borneo
Fuel shortages do not only affect local mobility. They also carry significant consequences for the tour and travel sector across Borneo, particularly in West Kalimantan.
Tourism in Borneo relies heavily on road transportation. Visitors traveling between cities, national parks, cultural villages, and border destinations typically depend on cars, vans, and tour buses. Reliable fuel availability is therefore essential for the smooth operation of tour services.
When fuel becomes scarce, travel companies face immediate operational challenges.
First, transportation schedules become uncertain. Tour operators cannot guarantee departure times if drivers must wait hours in line just to obtain gasoline. This disrupts travel itineraries and can cause cascading delays throughout multi-day tours.
Second, operating costs increase. Drivers and companies may be forced to search for fuel across multiple locations, burning additional time and money in the process. In some cases, tour operators must purchase fuel at higher unofficial prices.
Third, customer confidence declines. Tourists, especially international visitors, expect reliable infrastructure. If travelers encounter long fuel lines, delayed vehicles, or canceled trips, the reputation of the destination can suffer.
Fourth, local tourism economies may lose income. Hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions depend on a steady flow of visitors. When tour transportation becomes unreliable, visitor numbers can fall.
Borneo’s tourism sector is deeply connected to its natural and cultural heritage. Destinations such as rainforests, rivers, and indigenous cultural villages require dependable transportation networks.
Without stable energy distribution, even the most attractive destinations become difficult to access.
For that reason, maintaining reliable fuel supply chains is not only an economic necessity but also a strategic priority for regional development.
In regions like West Kalimantan, the stability of fuel distribution plays a quiet yet decisive role in sustaining the broader tourism ecosystem across the island of Borneo.
