SEPANG: With the formation of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA), the government wants logistics for trade and travellers entering the country through its international entry points to be more seamless, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Speaking at the inauguration of the MCBA at KLIA Terminal 1 here on Sunday (Feb 2), the Deputy Prime Minister II said Malaysia was one of the main gateways to the region and therefore its international entry points were important for trade and tourism.
“With services provided using simpler procedures and minimal wait times, travellers and businesses will have a better experience,” he said.
“This will spur economic growth and strengthen our position in the global arena,” he added.
Several border security and control agencies including customs, immigration and others are unified under the single agency.
Citing an example, Fadillah said travellers entering the country would have to undergo layers of inspection under the purview of different agencies, which could cause confusion and delays.
“With the single border control agency, we intend to provide a more seamless experience for travellers where they can undergo all inspections at one place and it would not be complicated,” he said adding that this would also reduce wait time.
This also applies to containers travelling in and out of Malaysian ports, he said.
Fadillah said streamlining all agencies under a single chain of command would address issues related to efficiency, overlap of duties and communication.
Acknowledging that the move to form the MCBA is not without its challenges, he said it has however proven that the silo and territorial mentality that was associated with the civil service could be overcome when the nation’s interest was put above everything else.
He said the government wanted to see changes in the service delivery by authorities at international gateways, in the comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and with minimum bureaucracy.
While this is important to ensure Malaysian airports and ports remain competitive, he assured the public that there would be no compromise on security.
To strengthen security he said, MCBA would employ advanced technology and data sharing to strengthen its security framework.
“As we know technology advancement is dynamic and evolving in line with the various threats to the country’s security,” he said while adding that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is critical for border security.
He said the use of AI would allow officers to identify and mitigate any threats and challenges.
“The formation of MCBA will train officers to adapt to new technologies and ecosystems which is a challenge on its own.
“When we integrate advanced technology such as biometrics and data analytics, officers too must be equipped with the skills needed to handle the advanced technology systems and equipment effectively,” he said.
He also said that continuous training was necessary to ensure that officers were well-versed with the latest technologies related to border management.
He said the government is also ready to invest in research and development to explore new approaches for the use of technology in border management.