ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency will be strengthened through new leadership and a focus on improving border security, says Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The Deputy Home Minister said its newly appointed director-general Datuk Mohd Suhaily Mohd Zain would lead the agency to address growing border threats.
He said the agency was being restructured to meet current challenges, including smuggling and trans-national crimes, and to align with the standards of established border agencies in other countries.
He said this after a working visit with the National Anti-Drugs Agency and the Malaysian Anti-Drug Association (Pemadam) on Friday (July 4) night.
Mohd Suhaily, will lead the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency for a two-year term until June 30, 2027. He succeeded Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali who retired on Feb 10.
Shamsul Anuar also highlighted the importance of efficient border management ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
On a separate matter, he said drug abuse must be addressed collectively by all parties including the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and politicians without politicising the issue.
He warned that drug-related problems if not tackled seriously, could affect the progress of developing states such as Johor, and called for Pemadam to adopt new approaches in combating drug abuse, particularly among those aged 15 to 39, who account for 60.2% of cases as of March 31.
