Malaysia to ship out 578 more e-waste containers as border agency targets full clearance by end 2026

Chief Secretary to the Government Dr Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar has advocated for the establishment of a world-class training academy for border agents within Malaysia's Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS). Dr Shamsul stressed that building in-house capabilities, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), is crucial to equip AKPS officers to confront increasingly complex border security challenges.

This move is expected to enable AKPS officers to operate autonomously over the next decade. The Chief Secretary made these remarks during the passing-out ceremony of the AKPS Basic Training Course Series 1/2026 at the Segamat Police Training Centre. The proposed academy is part of AKPS's strategic plan to transition from merely securing entry points to adopting a more advanced, integrated, and intelligence-led approach to border control.

Dr Shamsul emphasized that AKPS must evolve from its current role as "Guardians of Checkpoint" to becoming a proactive security leader for the entire border ecosystem. He highlighted the importance of continuous human capital development, which must keep pace with technological advancements and evolving criminal methods. Training should be facilitated through hands-on experience, real-world operations exposure, and mentorship by seasoned officers.

Despite having only about 30% of its optimum staffing level of 13,721 personnel, AKPS has made significant strides in its first 23 months of operation. The agency's efforts have resulted in the seizure of about RM265 million in illicit goods, which is three times the amount recorded in 2025. Moreover, AKPS has successfully returned 436 containers of electronic waste to their countries of origin through cooperation with various Malaysian agencies.

The 408 pioneer AKPS officers who completed their three-month basic training today are the first batch to join the public service under the new AKPS scheme, which commenced on July 1. These officers, comprising 39 assistant border superintendents and 369 border assistant officers, will be stationed at the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link entry point from October 1, ahead of the service's full operation on January 1, 2027.