THE RM19 billion allocation for the Home Ministry under the Budget 2024 is to strengthen national security controls and the welfare of ministry personnel, minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He said this was in line with the ministry’s role of managing various departments and agencies that ensure public safety and border controls.

“The Home Ministry functions under 51 parliamentary acts, through seven main cores, including strengthening security and public order, management of detainees, border, maritime and entry control, foreign national management affairs, drug rehabilitation and prevention, empowering communities, industries and ministry personnel welfare.

“The ministry has around 120,000 members from the police force, 15,000 staff members from Immigration Department, and around 60,000 in the People’s Volunteer Corps, among others, so the RM19 million allocation allows us to make improvements in various aspects, especially in personnel welfare,” he said as a guest on RTM’s Naratif Khas show entitled “Post Budget 2024: Strengthening Unity and National Security” last night.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim raised the allocation for the Home Ministry to RM19 million in Budget 2024, a RM500 million increase compared to the year before.

Saifuddin added that the larger allotment would enable land and maritime border controls to be improved to curb illegal activities in those areas.

“Land borders span about 4,000km while sea borders are around 590,000sq km and cigarette smuggling, illegal fishing and other (crimes) occur there. The estimated loss is around RM5 billion annually.

“Poor land and sea security would result in a major negative impact to the country, and this concern justifies the increase in allocation the Home Ministry will receive,” he added. – Bernama, November 7, 2023.