JOHOR BARU – The proposed establishment of a single border agency (SBA) to regulate the country’s entry points is now in the final stages of implementation, says Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the initiative which had been planned since 2018 to replace more than 20 enforcement agencies would emulate border agencies in other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.
“…we know that normal border regulation involves many agencies, if we manage to establish an SBA, we will be in the right direction to implement improvements to the country’s border control.
“To implement this initiative, more than 20 agencies will be unified including the Immigration Department, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department, and Customs Department, without compromising security elements. Instead, we will utilise technology by following the good practices of several countries,” he said.
He announced this after chairing a committee meeting to handle congestion at the Johor Causeway at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) here today.
On July 30, 2021, the cabinet decided to establish an SBA to control the country’s entry points following the issue of congestion at the Johor Causeway.
The SBA will be tasked to screen people, inspect goods and cargo, implement quarantine orders and inspect plants and animals as well as food, carry out wildlife-related and vehicle inspections, conduct health checks for disease control, and security enforcement.
On the congestion at the Malaysia-Singapore border, Saifuddin said the e-gates at the customs, immigration and quarantine complex at BSI and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex at Iskandar Puteri were opened for non-citizens from today, adding that the move would benefit between 30,000 and 50,000 Singaporeans who visit Johor for social purposes.
“Previously, e-gates were only limited to Malaysian passport holders. But from today we have decided to open this access to Singaporeans who use e-passports,” he said adding that 20 more e-gates would be opened at BSI from the existing 20 gantries placed at the entry and exit routes. – Bernama, January 20, 2023
