PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 — A bill is being formulated to establish the sole national border agency (SBA), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Cabinet has agreed to the bill proposal for establishing a new SBA entity under one name, and which will operate as the new border control agency.
Speaking to the press after the Home Ministry (KDN) monthly assembly today, he said there are 23 agencies on duty at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI), 14 agencies at Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, and nine in Rantau Panjang.
“The government’s purpose in setting up SBA is the right decision so the delivery system is more efficient and faster, with better coordination among agencies and improve the integrity issue,” Saifuddin said.
Following the Cabinet’s decision, the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers started work on formulating the bill, to be tabled in Parliament in the first quarter of this year.
The establishment of SBA, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2024 on October 13 last year, is part of the initiative to strengthen national defence and security preparedness.
On November 8, it was reported that KDN will be the lead in implementing SBA to regulate Malaysia’s 141 entry points.
— Bernama
