The Star Malaysia

Agencies ready for polls and possible floods

- By FARIK ZOLKEPLI farik@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: Agencies under the Home Ministry are at a high level of preparedne­ss to ensure that polling day for GE15 goes smoothly, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

The Home Minister said all relevant agencies were also ready for possible floods at any hotspot location when voting commences today.

“Simulation exercises for floods and GE15 were conducted previously and we hope nothing untoward will occur as we want Malaysians to go out and vote,” he told reporters after the graduation parade for Immigratio­n cadet officers Grades KP41 and KP29 here yesterday.

The graduation parade, which involved 193 cadet officers, was officiated by the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin

Al-mustafa Billah Shah.

The cadet officers have to undergo training for four-and-a-half months at the Immigratio­n Academy.

On another matter, Hamzah said the Immigratio­n Department has always prioritise­d the safety and security of the rakyat despite various challenges.

“It is proven as the department conducted 7,148 operations resulting in 31,649 undocument­ed immigrants being detained this year.

“Of the total of those detained, 31,398 individual­s have been deported,” he said in his speech at the event.

The department also plays a huge role in the nation’s economic developmen­t through its efficient management of visas and passes, he added.

“Since the opening of the country’s borders in April, the department has handled the entry of 10,400,045 people, of whom 60% were Singaporea­ns.

“We also have 2.4 million foreigners who are holders of long-term passes in various categories,” he said.

As at Nov 15, the department managed to collect Rm4.8mil in revenue through its expert handling of various initiative­s, said Hamzah.

“The government managed to save Rm25mil in expenditur­e through the department’s online and digital service initiative­s,” he added.

 ?? — bernama ?? Excellent work: tengku Hassanal (left) officiatin­g the graduation parade for Immigratio­n cadet officers Grades KP41 and KP29 in Putrajaya.
— bernama Excellent work: tengku Hassanal (left) officiatin­g the graduation parade for Immigratio­n cadet officers Grades KP41 and KP29 in Putrajaya.

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