AKPS SET TO HIRE 220 FORMER MAF PERSONNEL FROM JANUARY NEXT YEAR

SEPANG, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) will begin the phased recruitment of 220 former Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel in January next year, said its director-general, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said the initiative announced under Budget 2026 would be implemented through contract-based appointments once the allocation is disbursed.

“We met with former MAF personnel yesterday. As mentioned earlier, we will adopt a model similar to that used by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) for almost four years now.

“It mainly involves support duties, where enforcement powers will be shared with AKPS officers,” he said.

Mohd Shuhaily added that following a recent meeting with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, he was directed to expedite the implementation of the initiative.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2026, said that priority would be given to appointing military veterans to fill the 220 positions required by AKPS to achieve full operational readiness.

Regarding the implementation of the Advance Passenger Screening System (APSS), which began on Oct 31, Mohd Shuhaily said the system is in its initial phase, aimed at integrating Immigration Department data with facilities provided under APSS.

He also advised Malaysians with travel restrictions to resolve the issues before departing the country.

“This is because the system provides early notification to AKPS, allowing us to prevent individuals with travel restrictions from leaving the country,” he said.

Implemented by the Home Ministry, APSS aims to strengthen immigration control by screening passenger information prior to arrival, enabling authorities to identify high-risk individuals early and take proactive measures to enhance national security.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail earlier said that 10 airlines are involved in the initial phase of APSS implementation to test the system’s effectiveness before passengers arrive at the country’s international entry points.

-- BERNAMA