7 proposals from private sector to improve border security - Ahmad Zahid

The government received seven proposals from the private sector on various technology and construction approaches to improve the country's border security.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Home Ministry had submitted the proposals to the National Security Council for scrutiny.

"Including whether to use permanent assets or assets in the form of technology, or a combination of both," he told Malaysian journalists here Wednesday.

He said the government would also study the funding aspect of the construction as it involved substantial costs.

"We expect to spend at least RM1 billion to safeguard the northern peninsular border alone," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the Economic Planning Unit and Finance Ministry could study the mode of payment, whether it should be deferred or shared between the public and private sectors, or other means.

He said the project must be expeditiously implemented to reinforce the country's security control.

He said the issue of border security agency operations was among the topics that he brought up in his meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas at the latter's office here on Wednesday.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Ministry arrived here early Tuesday morning for a week-long working visit to attend the Nuclear Security Summit which would begin on Thursday.

He said the United States had also offered to familiarise Malaysia with its border control operations and assets including satellite and radar equipment as well as assets that could be feasibly used in Malaysia.