Fuad (left) looks at the cleared jungle – a stone’s throw away from the Tebedu/Entikong ICQ – believed to be an illegal entry point by foreigners into the state. — Photo by Chimon Upon

SERIAN: The federal government is still in the early stage of setting up a Border Control Safety Agency to deter the entry of militants, illegal immigrants, firearms and contraband items into the country.

The agency, according to the director of Public Order and Internal Security Department CP Datuk Muhammad Fuad Abu Zarim, would also control the illegal flow of controlled items to neighbouring countries.

“I hope the agency would materialise within this year. It would be carried out at the federal level first before it is extended to Sarawak and Sabah,” Fuad to a press conference prior to inspecting the Tebedu/Entikong Immigrations, Customs and Quarantine Centre (ICQ) yesterday.

He said the agency would be led by a commander from the police force similar to the Eastern Security and Safety Command (ESSCom) in Sabah covering some 1,400km wide.

“In Sarawak, we are looking at a border of 1,364km, which is why the agency will be made up of multiple agencies such as Customs, Immigration, police and the army,” he added.

With the formation of the agency, all ICQs in Malaysia could be further improved in terms of facilities and equipment. The usage of high-technology equipment such as radars and camera drones could also be used if extra allocations were given to the agency to enhance security along the nation’s porous border.

“We will first have to carry out an assessment and provide priority to critical areas along our borders first,” he added.

The police, he added, were also interested to learn from the USA on how their border control was carried out. The USA had over the years been using several approaches to control their borders such as the usage of horses and motorcycles to stop migrants from entering the country illegally.

“We have written to the US government to make a working visit here and see how their border control can be applied here. Maybe we can adopt what are best to be used in Malaysia,” he added.

On another note, he said the enforcement and security level in Sarawak were at high alert level similar to that in Kuala Lumpur.

The police, he added, were also working together with the Civil Defence Department and Federal Reserve Unit to assist them in patrolling high risk areas such as the KLCC.

Later Fuad and his entourage, who performed Friday prayers in Kampung Darul Iman in Tebedu, also took the opportunity to mingle with the villagers to build closer rapport with them who are living on the edge of the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

Public Order and Internal Security deputy director DCP Dato Azman Yusof, Tebedu Immigration chief Sahmat Abang and Serian District police chief DSP Chung Aik Peng were also present.