Malaysia’s armed forces have proposed creating a coordinated border-security framework that would bring several government agencies together, although the plan has not yet been approved or implemented.
Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said on September 14 that the Malaysian Armed Forces had submitted the proposal to the country’s National Security Council for consideration.
The proposed framework would involve the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Immigration Department. The agencies would work together through an integrated operational structure based on the approach previously used by Malaysia’s National Task Force (NTF).
The proposal is currently with the National Security Council, which will decide whether to forward it to the government for further consideration.
No decision has yet been announced to establish the new framework, meaning the proposed arrangement is not currently an operational border-security programme.
Malaysia previously used the NTF to coordinate multiple agencies responsible for securing the country’s borders.
The task force was established in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was responsible for Op Benteng, an operation designed to strengthen border controls and prevent irregular entry into Malaysia.
The NTF was later formally dissolved on December 31, 2022, after the National Security Council decided to end its operations.
Malek Razak said the previous task force had demonstrated the benefits of having different agencies work together under a coordinated structure.
He argued that some elements of the former system could be adapted to address current border-security concerns, although he suggested that any new arrangement would not necessarily operate on the same scale as the original NTF.
The armed forces currently maintain round-the-clock surveillance along Malaysia’s national borders, according to Malek Razak.
Malaysia also works with neighbouring Thailand and Indonesia on cross-border security matters, including intelligence sharing.
The proposed framework would therefore build on existing cooperation between security and enforcement agencies rather than replace Malaysia’s current border operations.
The proposal comes as Malaysia continues to strengthen efforts to monitor its land and maritime borders and address cross-border security issues.
Whether the plan will become government policy will depend on the National Security Council’s assessment and any subsequent decision by the Malaysian government.
For now, the NTF-style framework remains a proposal and has not been approved or put into operation.