Special legislation to empower border security agency - Ahmad Zahid

He said the draft legislation was expected to be tabled in Parliament at the end of this year.

The new act would empower AKSEM in enforcing the law pertaining to border security, said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister.

"The preliminary draft has been prepared by the legal advisor to the Home Ministry. We will have the Attorney-General's Chambers scrutinise the draft and we will work with the states bordering Thailand before tabling it in Parliament," he told a press conference after the launch of AKSEM at the Bukit Kayu Hitam AKSEM Complex here Tuesday.

"We have to obtain feedback from the state governments and the people as we want to apply the legislation for the long term," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said that for the time being, AKSEM would operate as an administrative entity with the enforcement backup of the National Security Council.

The new act would enable AKSEM to operate on its own in a comprehensive and more effective manner, he said.

Asked whether a new border fence would be constructed to replace the old one erected in the 1970s, Ahmad Zahid said the government would have to consider several aspects in this matter.

"We cannot only consider the cost but will have to see how many problems we can solve, particularly the smuggling of drugs, firearms and subsidised goods," he said.