KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry is looking at the need to increase manpower at the country's entry points once the single border agency is implemented next year.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said discussions were being held with several stakeholders including the Public Services Department.
He said, the additional manpower also takes into account the opening of Indonesia's new capital Nusantara in Kalimantan.
"The ministry is aware that the number of officers needs to be increased with the developments and the Immigration Department is conducting a study of officer requirements so that there are sufficient personnel guarding the country's entry points," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
An additional question was submitted by Roy Angau anak Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu) regarding the ministry's plan to increase the number of immigration and police officers to increase the level of security at the Lubok Antu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, which is one of the Malaysia-Indonesia border entry points. .
Shamsul Anuar said the movement of visitors in and out through the ICQS Lubok Antu border gate was recorded at 5,500 per month and the number is expected to increase when Nusantara starts operations.
He said from Jan 1 to Nov 15, a total of 62,159 people were recorded entering and exiting through the border gates.
Earlier, responding to Roy Angau's original question about the ministry's plan to improve the Lubok Antu ICQS Complex building which does not have Closed Circuit Cameras (CCTV) and internet access, he said the Immigration department had allocated a total of RM54.6 million for the procurement of CCTV rental services for a period of three years in 83 international entry points.
He said the move was in line with the ministry's commitment to implement renovation and improvement works in stages in all of the country's international entry points.
"The installation of CCTV involves procurement for the Peninsular Malaysia package amounting to RM36.3 million as well as the Sabah and Sarawak package which also covers ICQS Lubok Antu amounting to RM18.3 million which started last month.
"The installation of CCTV is important and critical for security monitoring for all ICQS in line with the ICQS complex's status as a restricted area as provided under the Restricted Areas and Restricted Places Act 1959," he said.
Shamsul Anuar explained that the installation of CCTV will be able to increase the level of security control from any unwanted intrusion while also monitoring the safety of travellers using the country's entrances.
"CCTV will help and protect the officers on duty from any public criticism because all movements are recorded.
"This will indirectly improve the department's reputation, protect officers and strengthen the integrity of all parties," he said.
Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar said the complex was also allocated a 30-megabit-per-second internet plan capacity under MyGov*Net.
"In addition to the internet service, this complex is also equipped with a stable fixed telephone line," he said.