LENGGONG: The Home Ministry will construct a new Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complex near the Malaysia-Thai border in Bukit Berapit, Pengkalan Hulu.
Its deputy minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the decision was made because the current ICQS location is about 700m away from the international border, which could cause issues of invasion.
"The decision to build a new complex was made to address these issues in an organised manner as detailed in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13 MP).
"However, as the 13 MP is still a long way off, the preparation of documents and scope of work will be carried out as soon as possible to enable the physical works to be carried out smoothly when the allocation is approved," he said.
He said this when met by reporters after attending the home ministry's Madani Iftar at Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara here today.
and Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
Shamsul Anuar said the construction of the ICQS was approved by the Home Minister at a meeting on April 11 and was brought to the attention of the state and federal governments at district and state levels meetings.
For the short term, the home ministry together with the police have decided to move the police roadblock from its current position to the international front checkpoint.
"This allows police control and screening to be done there. This is a short-term solution and we hope that the issue of trespassing, smuggling and illegal taxi operators can be dealt with by the police together with other agencies including the Immigration Department," he said. -- BERNAMA