COVID: Armed Forces implementing pilot integrated op to further tighten border security

KOTA BHARU: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) is implementing an integrated operational pilot project to further strengthen border security controls nationwide to curb cross-border crimes and the entry of illegal immigrants, especially with the country still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Army Western Field Commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the pioneer project was launched on June 16 in collaboration with the General Operations Force (GOF) to help the government break the coronavirus chain of transmission.

He added that the move was taken due to the existence of several new variants of the virus in the country, believed to be caused by the movements of illegal immigrants.

"I am confident that if security control is optimised, we will be able to increase the operational capabilities of these forces in protecting the country's borders from any threats," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after making an official working visit to a roadblock in Pasir Pekan here today. Kelantan Deputy police chief SAC Abdullah Mohammed Piah was also present.

To further improve security control at the country's borders, Muhammad Hafizuddeain said the National Task Force (NTF) is progressively supplying various assets in strengthening the operational capabilities of each security force on duty.

Meanwhile, on his three-day visit to Kelantan beginning yesterday, he said security control operations at the Kelantan-Thailand borders between ATM and various enforcement agencies were at a good level.

"Based on the briefing I received from the GOF yesterday, the force with other agencies have seized various types of goods involving cross-border crimes, worth up to RM900,000 in the last four days," he said.

-- BERNAMA