LETTERS: RECENT incidents involving illegal firearms have raised serious concerns about public safety and national security.
The ease with which individuals, including foreign nationals, have been able to illegally acquire guns is alarming and demands attention from the authorities.
The Israeli who allegedly illegally obtained firearms to carry out an assassination and the man who allegedly attempted to harm his wife with a gun are two cases that highlight the urgency of this problem.
It is believed that the porosity of the border between Malaysia and Thailand facilitates the smuggling of firearms into our country. Therefore, it is imperative for the government to invest in advanced border security technology.
Various countries have secured their borders through the use of technology such as surveillance drones, thermal imaging cameras, motion sensors and biometric identification systems.
The use of these technologies, which have been applied selectively due to cost and other limitations, must be expanded to boost the detection and interception of illegal firearms entering our borders.
It is also vital to set up a technology unit in the Home Ministry, akin to Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency.
This unit would focus on developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies to bolster our security infrastructure and stay ahead of evolving threats.
While technology plays a crucial role, we must also address the human factors contributing to the problem. Corruption and poor governance can undermine even the most sophisticated security measures.
Therefore, the government must vigorously combat corruption, enhance governance, and ensure accountability in law enforcement agencies.
The safety of our citizens is paramount and cannot be compromised. It is imperative that the government allocate sufficient resources and funding to address pressing security challenges.
We must reprioritise our allocations to invest in the technologies, training, and infrastructure to safeguard our nation against threats.
Failure to address illegal gun procurement and border security threats not only jeopardises public safety, but also poses significant risks to our economy and national stability.
Therefore, I urge the government to take action to address these issues before they escalate.
HABIB AB MUKMIN
President
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Alumni
Kuala Lumpur Chapter
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
