Zahid: Immigration Dept To Be Combined With Other Enforcement Agencies
PORT DICKSON: Plans are underway to combine the Immigration Department with other enforcement agencies in order to expand its role in border security control, as is done in developed countries.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a specific ministry will be set up for the combined enforcement team, which will focus on issues of immigration and border control.
"The threat and challenges faced by the department are different today.
Thus, we feel that there is a need to expand the department's role.
"The threats include encroachments of the country's land, air and sea borders, and the use of secret routes into the country.
This situation can't be handled by the Immigration Department alone, and it needs assistance from other enforcement agencies such as the police and army," he said.
"With the setting up of the new ministry, amendments need to be implemented on the current Immigration Act.
Allocation for new assets too, needs to be considered," he said at the Immigration officers’ training completion parade at the Malaysia Immigration Academy here today.
Zahid also said that the five-week Immigration Basic Course will be prolonged to six months to enhance training for immigration officers.
A total of 95 officers from Grade KP29 completed their five-week training at the academy.
-NST
