Time to instill discipline while empowering AKPS
Malaysia needs its border management agency to be more professional not only to ensure its credibility but to also enhance Putrajaya’s position in Asean.
The warning from Malaysia's border control and protection agency, AKPS, director-general Shuhaily Zain, highlights serious concerns over officers misusing medical leave. This issue extends beyond an internal administrative concern, as it directly impacts the credibility of an institution responsible for safeguarding Malaysia's borders.
Shuhaily has announced disciplinary measures against those who abuse sick leave, and private clinics could face legal action for issuing fraudulent medical certificates. His message is clear: officers must accept legitimate reprimands professionally, rather than resorting to questionable medical documentation. This is fundamentally about discipline, and discipline is crucial to maintaining border security.
Malaysia must go further and empower AKPS institutionally, as border management is now a vital component of national security, economic security, and Malaysia's standing within Southeast Asia. Malaysia's strategic position, encompassing key maritime gateways, necessitates a highly professional and integrated border institution capable of coordinating intelligence and enforcement across international entry points.
This requires advanced databases, biometric verification, modern scanning equipment, risk profiling, secure communication, and enhanced intelligence sharing among Malaysian agencies. However, technology alone is insufficient; institutional discipline is equally vital. Shuhaily's emphasis on discipline should be viewed as the foundation of building AKPS's institutional culture, which must remain fair and uncompromising towards corruption and misconduct.
Proper training, career development, welfare support, and professional recognition are essential for border officers, who serve as the frontline representatives of Malaysian sovereignty. By fostering stronger Asean cooperation on integrated border management, Malaysia can leverage its institutional strength to enhance its diplomatic influence.
A professional AKPS can serve as a model for the region, promoting an Asean border management center of excellence to facilitate professional training, intelligence cooperation, and best practice exchanges. This approach would not only strengthen Malaysia's borders but also ensure efficient transit for legitimate travel and commerce, striking a balance between security and accessibility.
Ultimately, AKPS represents more than a federal enforcement body; it is a crucial element in Malaysia's capacity-building efforts and its leadership within Asean. Institutional strength, however, begins with discipline. Officers must accept accountability consistently, supervisors must exercise authority responsibly, and clinics cannot become sources of questionable medical documents.
Standards must apply uniformly across all ranks. Malaysia must invest in AKPS with the necessary resources, technology, training, and intelligence capabilities to become one of Southeast Asia's leading border-management institutions.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
