Tag: AKPS

Sabah wants immigration autonomy rights preserved in implementation of AKPS Act

Sabah wants immigration autonomy rights preserved in implementation of AKPS Act

KOTA KINABALU, JULY 22 — The Sabah State Government wants to ensure that the implementation of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency Act 2024 (Act 860) does not erode the state’s immigration autonomy, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was told today. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the stance […]

PM passes allocation of RM22 million for AKPS weaponry – Saifuddin Nasution

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an allocation of RM22 million to equip the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) with appropriate firearms and equipment, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the move was approved by the Prime Minister following the urgent need to strengthen the security of AKPS personnel after the shooting incident on a vehicle carrying an agency commander in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah last February. "Following the incident, I wrote to the Prime Minister about the need for the AKPS to be equipped with the necessary weapons and the Prime Minister immediately approved an allocation of RM22 million for the need to equip the AKPS with weapons that were deemed reasonable, appropriate for their duties at the border," he said during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today. Saifuddin Nasution said this when answering a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) regarding the constraints faced by AKPS officers who are not provided with safety equipment such as firearms and bulletproof vests while on duty. He said that although AKPS is made up of various agencies, including Ministry of Health officers, only a few segments within AKPS have the skills to handle firearms like the police. Touching on the issue of integrity, Saifuddin Nasution is confident that the establishment of AKPS will resolve the issue of bureaucratic red tape and integrity risks that previously existed when border control involved more than 20 agencies. "If border control involves more than 20 agencies, the process becomes one by one, but if there is only one agency left, called AKPS, we can reduce bureaucratic red tape and be the best formula to reduce red tape or attraction to corruption issues related to integrity," he said. He said that in just the first year of operation, AKPS had recorded several successes including a major seizure of drugs worth tens of millions of ringgit at Penang Airport as well as a case of e-waste smuggling at the port through collaboration with relevant agencies. Responding to a question from Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), he assured that the establishment of AKPS did not conflict with the Federal Constitution, while the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under MA63 would continue to be respected. Saifuddin Nasution said the matter had been explained repeatedly and agreed upon before the AKPS was presented and approved, thus showing that it was no longer a policy issue but an implementation and operation. He said the establishment of AKPS aims to resolve several key issues including streamlining the movement of people and goods, improving integrity, increasing national revenue and strengthening security aspects at the country's entry points. He also stressed that there were previous successful models such as the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) which successfully combined various agencies into an integrated operating system to strengthen national security. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an allocation of RM22 million to equip the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) with appropriate firearms and equipment, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the move was approved by the Prime Minister following the urgent need […]

AKPS denies entry to 28 foreigners at Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS

ALOR SETAR: The Border Protection Agency (AKPS) refused entry to 28 foreign nationals at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) between April 1 and 11. Bukit Kayu Hitam AKPS commander SAC Fauzi Mohd Yusof said that of the total, 14 individuals were Indian citizens, consisting of 13 men and one woman. He said all the individuals aged 20 to 40 were refused entry into the country after failing to meet the requirements as tourists, including not having a return ticket and being unable to provide a clear purpose of travel to Immigration officers. "In addition, there are also those among them who are listed on the department's suspect list and are not allowed to enter Malaysia," he said in a statement today. He said five Thai citizens were also refused entry after being found to be using damaged passports and did not meet the country's entry requirements. In addition, Fauzi said two Bangladeshi men were refused entry because they were not allowed to use the land entrance in accordance with the department's current instructions. He said the rest involved citizens of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Indonesia who were refused entry due to various non-compliance with entry requirements and all of them were directed to return to their last country of departure. Fauzi further said that his party would continue to tighten controls at the country's entry points to ensure that only visitors who meet the requirements are allowed to enter. "Strict action will continue to be taken against any individual who attempts to abuse the country's Immigration facilities," he said.

ALOR SETAR: The Border Protection Agency (AKPS) refused entry to 28 foreign nationals at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) between April 1 and 11. Bukit Kayu Hitam AKPS commander SAC Fauzi Mohd Yusof said that of the total, 14 individuals were Indian citizens, consisting of 13 men and one […]

JKDM KLIA Bust Nets RM3.26 Million Worth of Drugs, Foreign Currency

SEPANG — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) successfully foiled attempts to smuggle drugs and seized various foreign currencies with a total value of RM3.26 million through three separate cases in January and February this year. In the first case, JKDM KLIA director Zulkifli Muhammad said on Jan […]