PUTRAJAYA: Frontline officers of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) are set to receive specialised training from the Australian Border Force (ABF), in a move aimed at exposing them to international best practices, says Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
The AKPS director-general said the initiative is designed to strengthen integrity and professionalism among personnel who are often not sufficiently exposed to global standards in border management.
“Many of our frontline officers rarely get the chance to see how highly respected agencies operate overseas. We want them to experience it firsthand, to take pride in their role and understand what world-class border enforcement looks like,” he said during a special media session recently.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily described the ABF as a benchmark for strict and disciplined border control.
He cited examples of Australia’s meticulous biosecurity measures, noting how visitors automatically comply with rules such as ensuring footwear is free of soil.
“That level of respect and awareness comes naturally, without constant reminders. If Malaysia can one day command the same level of respect from visitors, then I would have achieved what I set out to do,” he added.
Beyond enforcement techniques, Comm Mohd Shuhaily stressed the growing importance of language skills among officers.
“English proficiency is essential, and Arabic can be valuable depending on operational needs.
“In the future, I want our frontline officers to be proficient in other languages, including French.
“This will enable them to better engage with international visitors and elevate the agency to higher standards,” he said.
On institutional development, he acknowledged that agencies such as the ABF took nearly a decade to reach their current level, and that challenges between agencies still exist.
“We need time and support to properly establish AKPS as a formidable, fully operational agency,” he said.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily also highlighted differences in border agency structures across countries.
While Australia and the United States adopt a customs-led model, Singapore’s system is immigration-led.
“I don’t have a definitive answer as to which model is best. Often, the formation of new agencies is driven by the need to break away from legacy problems inherited from older systems.
“The challenge is to neutralise these problems so they do not carry over into new organisations, even if much of the personnel remains the same,” he said.
He added that the rationale for creating new border agencies is often complex and not always clearly communicated, but noted that technology will play a key role in future improvements.
