PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department's special tactical team is getting commando training with the help from the Armed Forces.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said he had met Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Nor regarding the commando training course for 40 members of its elite squad.
"As things are getting more challenging each day, a more vigorous physical training is needed to prep our team," he told reporters after the department's monthly gathering today.
The commando training, Mustafar added, was crucial as the team had to face cross-border crime in addition to handling high-profile cases.
The team has to be equipped with skills, which will include navigating mangrove and jungle areas, he said.
It was reported that the 40-member special tactical team had recently undergone a 31-day training at the General Operations Force (GOF) training centre in Ulu Kinta Perak, last month.
They were trained in various modules including physical and endurance training; introduction to explosive materials; the use of firearms and techniques to frisk a person; and conduct building and vehicle inspections.
On the target number of members of the elite squad in the near future, Mustafar declined to disclose the figure, but said the department had plans to raise the number.
"We have 15,000 officers and the existing 40 members of the elite squad is a very small number. But, we have other enforcement teams who have their own skill sets," he said, adding 400 cadets were currently undergoing basic trainings at Port Dickson.
The department, he said, kept a close watch on these cadets to identify those with talents so that they would be given extra trainings.
On the Maid Online System (SMO), Mustafar said, the department had received 6,053 registrations for applications from employers as of Wednesday.
Out of the total number, 1,345 applications for foreign maid has been completed and successfully registered, he added.
The process of hiring foreign maids via SMO came into effect on Jan 1.