JOHOR BARU: The establishment of a single border agency (SBA) responsible for overseeing 141 borders throughout the country is expected to commence next year.
Home Minister (KDN), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said details regarding SBA were currently being finalised by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and KDN Secretary-General, Datuk Ruji Ubi, today in Putrajaya.
He said KDN would begin the pioneering SBA project after the essential details, particularly the implementation and agency structure, had been decided.
"Following the presentation of the 2024 Budget by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, last month, the cabinet decided to task KDN with leading the establishment of SBA.
"As a result, today Mohd Zuki and Ruji Ubi are holding a meeting to determine the critical details of the implementation of SBA, particularly on its structure and organisational structure, also to expedite the establishment of this agency, God willing, which will commence next year.
"SBA can learn from the implementation of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), also for example, in our neighbouring country, Singapore, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)," he said.
He said this after witnessing the signing of an "En Bloc" purchase agreement for Aliff Sejahtera Apartments in Johor Baru for the Malaysian Immigration Department's Quarters between the Federal Land Commissioner of Malaysia and PIJ Property Development Sdn Bhd, here today.
Also present was the Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Last month, the cabinet was reported to be finalising the establishment of SBA to oversee the country's entry points in the near future.
During the presentation of the 2024 Budget on Oct 13, Anwar announced the establishment of SBA as part of initiatives to strengthen the country's defence and security preparedness.
On Jan 20, Saifuddin reportedly said the SBA initiative, which has been planned since 2018, was aimed at uniting more than 20 enforcement agencies at 141 entry points, including Immigration Department (JIM), Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service department (Maqis), and Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM).
Furthermore, Saifuddin said the main purpose of the SBA outlined by the cabinet was to coordinate various control and enforcement agencies at the national borders.
"In addition, SBA will be responsible for enhancing the efficiency of the delivery and management system at the national borders when multiple agencies are placed under one agency, as well as strengthening the issue of national border integrity," he said.