Govt chief secretary pitches training academy for border agents as Malaysia faces more complex threats

SEGAMAT, Sept 27 — The Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) needs its own world-class training academy to build expertise in border management technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said today.

He said building in-house capabilities was crucial for preparing AKPS officers to tackle increasingly complex border security challenges and operate independently over the next 10 to 20 years.

“The world-class AKPS Training Academy is important for producing more talented and highly skilled Malaysians in border management technologies, including artificial intelligence, who are future-ready, uphold integrity and are committed to safeguarding national interests,” he said at the passing-out ceremony for the AKPS Basic Training Course Series 1/2026 at the Segamat Police Training Centre here.

Also present was AKPS director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

Shamsul Azri said the proposed academy was part of AKPS’ plan to move beyond securing entry points towards smart, integrated and intelligence-led border control.

He said AKPS, currently in its first phase as “Guardians of Checkpoint”, must evolve from simply controlling the movement of people and goods at border crossings to taking a more proactive approach to border security.

“This is the change we must make — from guarding checkpoints to managing the border through smart, integrated and intelligence-led control, ultimately becoming the security leader for the country’s entire border ecosystem,” he said.

He said the agency’s human capital development must keep pace with technological advances and evolving criminal methods, with training continuing through on-the-job experience, exposure to real operations and mentoring by experienced officers.

Shamsul Azri said AKPS had made encouraging progress in its nearly 23 months of operation despite having only about 30 per cent of its optimum staffing level of 13,721 personnel.

He said the value of seizures and leakages prevented by AKPS this year had reached RM265 million, about three times the amount recorded in 2025.

He also highlighted AKPS’ success in returning 436 containers of electronic waste (e-waste) to their countries of origin through cooperation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Royal Malaysia Police, Department of Environment and port authorities.

The 408 pioneer AKPS officers who completed their three-month basic training today are the first batch to enter the public service under the new AKPS scheme, which took effect on July 1.

The batch comprises 39 assistant border superintendents and 369 border assistant officers, who will be stationed at the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link entry point from Oct 1 ahead of the service’s full operation on Jan 1, 2027. — Bernama

*Editor’s note: AKPS is the Malay abbreviation for Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia,.