PUTRAJAYA: The management and control of the nation's borders are now under the authority of the Malaysia Checkpoints and Border Agency (MCBA).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said MCBA had started operating yesterday, although the law governing the agency would only be tabled in Parliament in July.
"The MCBA's source of authority comes with the existing agencies under it, such as the police, Customs Department and the Immigration Department.
"Therefore, all departments without exception must accept this instruction seriously and act now," he said in his speech at the Home Ministry's Aidilfitri celebration here today.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said MCBA would coordinate and ensure that operations at the country's borders are smooth and secured.
"Border security has to be maintained and all leakages and smuggling must be stopped. This is a big task for MCBA director-general Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali and the MCBA family, I believe they can carry out their duties well," he added.
Saifuddin said the establishment of the MCBA was the first step towards assuring border security.
"I believe that in the near future, there will be several game-changing announcements which will be made, to make it easier for tourists so there will no longer be congestion (at our country's borders)," he said.
Earlier, Anwar witnessed the terms of reference handing-over ceremony between the Home Ministry and its partners under the MCBA.
The terms of reference documents were signed by the Home Ministry secretary-general, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner, Treasury secretary-general, and secretaries-general of the defence, agriculture and food security, health, transport, natural resources and environmental sustainability ministries.
It would also be signed by the Sabah and Sarawak state secretaries.
In a statement, the Home Ministry said the cabinet had agreed on the establishment of MCBA on April 17.
Among others, agencies and departments involved in MCBA included the police, the Customs Department, the Immigration Department, the Health Ministry, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Road Transport Department.