Border Agency Calls for More Investigators

The Director-General of the Immigration Department, Shuhaily, told Malaysiakini that the border control agency is short of staff and urgently needs 400 more investigators to keep pace with rising cross‑border challenges. He said the department is also planning to set up its own investigation and prosecution arms, which would allow quicker action on illegal entry and smuggling cases without depending on other agencies.

For travellers and businesses, a stronger investigative team means tighter security at checkpoints, potentially reducing illegal crossings and enhancing confidence in Malaysia’s border management, which can affect travel times and trade reliability.

A fuller investigative force will speed up case handling, deter smuggling networks and reassure the public that borders are well‑guarded, which can boost tourism and foreign investment confidence in Malaysia’s security framework.