TUMPAT: At least 10 of the country's 141 entry points will be involved in the pilot project for the single border agency (SBA), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the 10 which were selected are among the busiest in the country and included entry points in Johor, Sabah, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur.
He said this pilot project was expected to start in the first quarter of next year.
"The Home Ministry will be the lead agency for the project.
"Among its function is to be the single agency to make easy for the coordination in controlling the country's borders.
"It will also control issues related to intergrity. Details regarding the SBA is still on-going," he said.
Saifuddin told this to a Press conference after launching the General Operations Force (GOF) new front-base post in Nibong here today.
At the event were ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
Also present were Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun and GOF Southeast Brigade commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Sheik Azhar Sheik Omar.
Saifuddin said the preparation for the project will be done within the last two months of the year before the project starts next year.
He also said the ministry had no plans for new recruitment and would use the existing positions for the agency.
Earlier in his speech,Saifuddin said the establishment of SBA would help co-ordinate the roles of all border agencies.
"It also aimed to improve the delivery systems but the important part is integrity as it was the prime minister's hopes to strengthen this issue," he added.
On the Nibong post, he said it was among 16 used by GOF in Kelantan.
"The prime minister has approved about RM45 million for the upgrading works of all the 151 GOF posts from Perlis to Sabah.
"Now, the upgrading works of all these locations are on-going. The allocation includes RM4 million for Kelantan," he added.
