‘AKSEM ACT WAS A LONG-AWAITED ONE’
We will now have more autonomy in enforcement work, says agency’s D-G
ENFORCEMENT and border controls will be enhanced with the Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) Act 2017, which came into force yesterday.
Aksem director-general Datuk Mohamad Ismail said the act’s implementation was a longawaited one.
“With this in place, Aksem will have more autonomy over the enforcement work carried out at the country’s borders,” he told the New Straits Times.
Mohamad said he would be mandated to fully coordinate, observe and submit findings to a high-level committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the home minister, and the committee meeting chaired by the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim, for suggestions and actions.
“Now, I’ll be able to coordinate agencies and departments which come under Aksem, such as police, the Immigration Department and Customs Department, apart from the National AntiDrug Agency, National Kenaf and Tobacco Board under one authority and carry out activities accordingly.
“There are areas we will have to revisit and further strengthen (our enforcement),” he added.
As the first step after the implementation of the act, he said he would invite the agencies’ and departments’ heads and officers for a meeting in the days to come, to identify problems and solutions.
“This is his (Zahid’s) vision, to see all agencies come under one authority to carry out efficient and effective enforcement.”
Last week, the Home Ministry had said the act was scheduled to come into force yesterday, in accordance with subsection 1(2) of the Aksem Act 2017 (Act 799).
It said the act was formulated to streamline control and action against illegal activities at the country’s land borders.
The act provides for the setting up of a special agency, which is responsible for curbing smuggling and other illegal activities along the country’s land borders.
It will expand Aksem’s functions in controlling land borders
In previous reports, Zahid had said Aksem would enforce security control along the MalaysianThai border under a legislation that would be tabled in Parliament.
He said the new act would empower Aksem in enforcing the law pertaining to border security and to operate in a comprehensive and effective manner.