AKPS HAS RECORDED NEARLY RM82.1 MLN IN SEIZURES AT ENTRY POINTS TO DATE

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) has recorded total seizures valued at nearly RM82.1 million from operations at the country’s entry points so far this year, says AKPS director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

He said the achievement comprised drug-related seizures amounting to 205,154 grammes valued at nearly RM20.2 million, health-category seizures involving medical products and chemicals worth RM1.4 million, as well as seizures valued at nearly RM60 million by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS).

According to him, AKPS has also officially taken over the role of customs inspections since Oct 1, with seizure values recorded to date amounting to RM222,519, while seizures involving subsidised goods such as diesel fuel, motor vehicles and the like by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) were valued at RM183,590.

Speaking at a press conference on AKPS’ 2026 roadmap today, Mohd Shuhaily said control of the country’s official entry points was a highly complex task, given that AKPS was still a new agency and had inherited various legacy issues across disciplinary, asset and operational aspects from core departments.

These agencies are the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), JPJ, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Ministry of Health (MOH) and MAQIS.

“At present, AKPS is strengthened by more than 6,000 officers deployed at 22 entry points. Next year, we are scheduled to take over the remaining entry points nationwide, exceeding 120 in total, and the main challenge is ensuring sufficient manpower to make these entry points secure, as well as ensuring more efficient and effective deployment,” he said.

Mohd Shuhaily said findings by the Single Border Agency (SBA) Nucleus Team suggested that the optimal strength for AKPS was 13,721 officers, however the current workforce stood at only about half of that requirement, making human resources the most pressing challenge.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shuhaily said the use of technology, including the installation of autogates and the upgrading of the decades-old Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs), is expected to expedite traveller movement, reduce reliance on manpower and close loopholes for unhealthy activities such as counter-setting and ‘flying’ passports.

However, he urged the public to remain patient as the migration and upgrading process of the new system might face technical disruptions at the early stages, while system security features would also be enhanced to ensure that only eligible individuals were allowed to enter or exit the country.

Mohd Shuhaily said AKPS was also expected to expand its operational scope to cargo entry points and ports as early as next year after the stabilisation phase of traveller-related operations was successfully achieved.

“At the initial stage, AKPS’ success is more evident in the context of managing and controlling traveller movement at official entry points. After operations are stabilised, it is hoped that starting next year we can expand the operational scope to further refine and strengthen controls at ports and cargo entry points,” he said.

Commenting on border control coverage, he said AKPS was expected to assume full responsibility over the country’s border entry points, subject to the gazettement of the AKPS Act and the implementation of the second phase of officer deployment.

“At present, the process of gazetting the AKPS Act is ongoing, including the implementation of the second phase of officer deployment, and this matter is being pursued together with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC),” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shuhaily stressed that AKPS’ operational achievements to date proved that inherited legacy issues were not solely negative in nature, but also included human resource strengths and past successes that should be continued.

“Today’s achievements show that it is not only unfavourable legacy issues that we have inherited, but also officers and legacy achievements that must be carried forward. Not all of it is bad, only a small portion. What is good and excellent must be recognised as good and excellent,” he said.

-- BERNAMA