Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has sanctioned a budget of RM22 million to enhance the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) with firearms and other essential equipment, as announced by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. This decision comes after a critical need to bolster the safety of AKPS personnel was identified following a shooting incident involving a vehicle carrying one of the agency's commanders in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, earlier this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution revealed that he had communicated the necessity for AKPS to be adequately armed to the Prime Minister, who promptly approved the funding. This allocation is intended to provide AKPS with appropriate armaments to enhance their operational capabilities at the border. The announcement was made during the Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Home Minister addressed a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on the limitations faced by AKPS officers, who currently lack safety equipment like firearms and bulletproof vests while on duty. Although AKPS comprises personnel from various agencies, including the Ministry of Health, only specific segments within the agency, such as police personnel, possess the requisite skills for handling firearms.
Saifuddin Nasution also touched on the significance of integrity within the agency, asserting that the formation of AKPS aims to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and integrity risks previously encountered when border control functions were dispersed across more than 20 agencies. By consolidating these functions under a single agency, the government aims to cut through bureaucratic red tape and minimize opportunities for corruption and other integrity-related issues.
In its inaugural year, AKPS has already achieved significant milestones, including a major drug seizure worth millions at Penang International Airport and the interception of e-waste smuggling at ports through collaboration with relevant agencies. Responding to a question from Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), Saifuddin Nasution assured that AKPS's establishment is in line with the Federal Constitution and upholds the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The establishment of AKPS addresses several critical issues, such as streamlining the movement of people and goods, enhancing integrity, increasing national revenue, and strengthening security at the country's entry points. Saifuddin Nasution emphasized the success of similar precedents like the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which have effectively integrated multiple agencies into a cohesive operational framework to bolster national security.