By Adrian Lim
PUTRAJAYA, March 1: Closed circuit televisions (CCTV), radar and high capacity drones will be acquired to strengthen the security at the country’s border including the Sarawak-Indonesia border.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his first anniversary of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government’s administration also revealed that more checkpoints will be established and border fencing will be built around the country’s border in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
He explained that the PN government is committed to strengthen border security using a five-front approach to prevent more illegal immigrants who have managed to sneak in to Malaysia through the country’s border which happened when Malaysia was fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The five-front approach includes the northern border of Kedah, northern border of Kelantan, the south, Sabah and Sarawak which will be implemented through increase of assets and the use of different high technology equipment according to the suitability of the situation at the border.
“These include additional checkpoints, border fencing, closed circuit television (CCTV), radar and high capacity drones.
“The government will not compromise on the entry of illegal immigrants in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” he stressed.
Muhyiddin said the PN government will beef up border security, ensure compliance with movement control, strengthen existing detention centres including opening up temporary detention centres, and enforce stricter rules concerning the entry of foreigners.
He added security law and policies will be enhanced to strengthen enforcement.
Muhyiddin who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president disclosed that 6,634 operations to combat the entry of illegal immigrants have been implemented as of Dec 2020.
He also revealed that a total of 22,522 illegal immigrants have been detained and 387 employers who assisted the entry of illegal immigrants into the country have been arrested.
He said 11 syndicates which related to the smuggling of illegal immigrants and 111 masterminds behind it have been arrested.
Muhyiddin noted the PN government has strengthened border security through Ops Benteng which was conducted under the National Task Force (NTF) which includes various security agencies.
He added Ops Benteng has managed to detain illegal immigrants while expelling them, as well as confiscate boats which have entered Malaysia’s waters illegally. — DayakDaily
