KUALA KUBU BAHARU: The Malaysia Checkpoints and Border Agency (MCBA) have begun carrying out their duties through the cabinet paper presented in April.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said MCBA have started functioning optimally starting from yesterday.
He said the operations and enforcement carried out by the new agency would also be strengthened through the presentation of the bill for the agency's establishment in July this year.
"The idea of establishing MCBA is not new, but since 2019 when I was a member of the administration as the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.
"At that time, a nucleus team was formed to make all the preparations.
"When the government was formed in November 2022, I saw that the information (and preparations) was sufficient and the prime minister announced it in the budget speech, followed by the presentation in the cabinet paper by me.
"So, where does the authority come from, is in the cabinet paper? The source of authority is in the cabinet's power, more precisely on the presentation date last April," he said after visiting the police college, here, today (May 3).
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed MCBA to carry out its tasks with immediate effect.
Anwar said although the bill related to the establishment of the agency would only be tabled in Parliament in July, all relevant departments such as the Immigration Department and Customs Department could already deploy their officers and start duties immediately.
Saifuddin said as of now, the ministry was awaiting the review of the bill by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) before presentation in the July Parliament session.
He said MCBA would function through four main scopes, namely border control to facilitate movement across the border, whether involving citizens or foreign tourists.
"Secondly, we want the delivery process at the border to run smoothly. There is no need to deal with dozens of agencies that are responsible for security at the border.
"Third, MCBA was established to address integrity issues and fourth it is aimed at improving national revenue," he said.
He said when the relevant bill is passed, MCBA will also become a large and important enforcement agency in the country.
"We want border management to be centralised, compared with previously having 24 to 25 departments. In terms of governance, it will be easier," he said.