Selangor Journal
Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) monitoring the national border between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Kayu Hitam on November 28, 2020. — Picture by BERNAMA

Master plan to enhance border security in the works — KDN 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — The Home Ministry (KDN) is developing a Master Plan on National Border Security Control to further strengthen security at Malaysia’s borders.

In a written reply published on the Parliament website, KDN said it will provide a comprehensive master plan framework through the development of integrated strategies and action plans involving ministries and agencies, as well as other government agencies involved in national border control.

“This master plan will be implemented based on two strategic focuses: strengthening national border security control operations and enhancing the capacity of national border control.

“The strategic focus designed to strengthen national border security control will be implemented based on the five-front approach, namely the north (Kedah, Perlis and Perak); east (Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang); south (Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor); Sabah; and Sarawak.”

It said this in reply to a question from Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol, who wanted to know the steps to ensure the jurisdiction and cooperation among authorities involved in combating the rampant smuggling of controlled and prohibited goods at the Indonesia-Sarawak border.

KDN said it is also implementing a feasibility study for the development of the National Border Control System (NBCS) as an effort towards empowering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in border security control.

It said the proposed development of NBCS is a strategic step to strengthen national border security control through the use of the latest technology, in line with the current global technological advancements.

“The proposed NBCS will be equipped with the latest surveillance systems and AI technology to enable unsupervised operations, smart control processes, rapid real-time information dissemination, and continuous 24/7 surveillance in protecting Malaysia’s land and maritime borders for the nation’s peace, stability and sovereignty.

“The use of AI technology will enable effective object verification, avoid false alarms and assist security forces in decision-making to enhance the overall efficiency of border security control,” it said.

The NBCS feasibility study under the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan is being carried out by the Public Security Institute, through the appointment of a research team and public university experts. It started on September 7 last year and is expected to be completed this November.

In a separate reply, KDN said the number of citizenship applications received by the National Registration Department between January and June 10 this year was 3,030, and they have been processed according to established procedures and regulations.

— Bernama

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