PUTRAJAYA: Border point commanders must take a hands-on approach in resolving issues affecting the country’s entry points instead of remaining office-bound, says Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
He said the effective discharge of duties by AKPS commanders required them to be directly involved on the ground to identify and address operational problems.
“I expect AKPS commanders to be visionary and get their hands dirty by going down to the ground to identify problems,” he said, acknowledging that the agency is currently facing a shortage of manpower.
Mohd Shuhaily said while the government has assured that staffing constraints would be addressed in stages, commanders must not wait for ideal conditions before taking action.
“The challenge faced by AKPS at present is limited human resources, but until we reach a more comfortable level, sitting in the office alone will not help identify problems faced by officers on the ground.
“Without understanding ground realities, miscommunication will occur,” he said in a speech at the swearing-in of three new entry-point commanders at the agency’s headquarters here on Monday (Jan 12).
He also reminded commanders to carry out their duties with dedication, competence and, above all, integrity.
“I constantly remind my commanders that AKPS officers must not be involved in any abuse of power or corruption. There are always eyes watching, and if any misconduct is recorded, strict action will be taken. I will not compromise on this,” he said.
“If anything happens, I will not hesitate to make changes. This expectation applies not only to these three new commanders, but to all current and future AKPS entry-point commanders,” he added.
Mohd Shuhaily said the agency would continuously assess all entry-point commanders based on their communication, leadership, problem-solving abilities and capacity to manage transformation.
He also revealed that AKPS has compiled a list of officers found guilty of misconduct, with disciplinary proceedings set to begin this year.
The three new AKPS entry-point commanders sworn in at the ceremony were Mohd Shafie Zakaria (KLIA Terminal 1), Deputy Comm Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal (Port Klang) and Farah Azura Mohd Shargawi (Kuantan Port).
