SEPANG: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) is set to bolster the nation's border security with a target of 12,000 personnel once it reaches full operational capacity across 141 entry points.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the agency, established in October to centralise border enforcement, currently operates with around 6,000 officers, half its targeted strength.
He said MCBA, being the sole enforcement body overseeing land, sea, and air entry points would not create new positions, but instead absorb personnel from existing agencies.
Such agencies include the Customs Department, Immigration Department, and the police, among others.
"For example, 1,090 Customs officers will be reassigned under MCBA, handling inspection, assessment, and payment duties.
"The same goes for the police where I recently chaired the police commission meeting discussing on implementing a cadre programme to place officers in MCBA.
"Will it create new roles? No," he said in a press conference after attending the launch of the MCBA at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, and Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.
Saifuddin added that as MCBA expands, the agency may consider creating new positions to support its growing responsibilities.
However, the current focus remains on optimising existing human resources to ensure effective border control.
As of Jan 31, MCBA operates at 19 key entry points selected from 141 official border checkpoints nationwide.
These include land crossings, seaports, and airports, with the first phase focusing on strategic areas such as Rantau Panjang along the Thai border.
"Out of 141 entry points, we decided to start with 19 first to help determine which entry points we place next.
"This is the formula we will use to determine MCBA's operational priorities at entry points, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, based on a set order of importance.
"According to the initial plan that I discussed with the deputy prime minister (Fadillah), our focus for air entry points will be on the busiest international airports.
"Besides Kuala Lumpur, priority will be given to Penang, followed by Kota Kinabalu — despite the deputy prime minister being from Sarawak, he has requested that we prioritise Kota Kinabalu ahead of Kuching and other airports," he said.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the key performance indicators for MBCA would focus on enhancing border security efficiency, improving inspection processes, and streamlining resource deployment.
"Our KPIs are clear — we want faster, more accurate inspections without compromising security.
"This includes reducing bottlenecks at high-traffic entry points and ensuring seamless coordination between agencies."
