KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 – The Home Ministry is studying a proposal by five companies to build a wall along the Malaysian border to curb smuggling activities.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the study would also take into account the suitability of the surrounding and earth surface at the border areas in the peninsula, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
“Secondly, we have to look at the cost,” he told reporters after opening the Conference of Police Commissioner/Police Chief/Commander and Commandant here today.
Since last year, there have been several proposals, including from the Kelantan police, for the government to build a wall along the Malaysia-Thai border to address smuggling.
On another development, Ahmad said the ministry was working with the police, the Anti-Smuggling Unit, the Customs Department and the Immigration Department to improve the standard operating procedures in monitoring of border areas.
They include taking several actions, like replacing the scanner machines at the entry points, he added.
He said the ministry had been allocated the fund to buy “‘High-Definition’ closed-circuit cameras, some of which had been installed at the entry points to the country.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police had requested for fund from the Finance Ministry to have additional CCTVs to be installed at hotspot locations in the country.
