THE Defence Ministry will look into the need to increase security personnel or equipment to tighten control at the border areas, thus curbing transnational smuggling syndicates.

Its minister Mohamad Hasan said the government, through Budget 2024 that was announced recently, had allocated a large amount of funds to strengthen border control.

“We’ll see the situation whether there is a need for more closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), additional personnel or an electric fence (at the border). We have to discuss with Thailand and Indonesia,” he told reporters after opening the Madani Health Carnival and Agro Sale in Seremban today.

He said this in response to a proposal by the Thai government to build an electric fence equipped with CCTVs in the area bordering Malaysia to curb smuggling.

Describing the proposed move as also benefitting Malaysia, Mohamad said it would curb cross-border crime, especially smuggling, which caused billions of ringgit in losses to Malaysia.

Mohamad, who is also the Rembau MP, said the ministry was in the procurement process to use drones and other security assets to ensure more effective control of the country’s borders.

“The most important thing is to upgrade the control posts in the border areas along Malaysia-Thailand and Malaysia-Indonesia in Kalimantan and this is being done in stages,” he said. – Bernama, November 26, 2023