Kuala lumpur: A total of 540 illegal routes have been identified nationwide as of February, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail announced. These routes include 316 land routes and 224 maritime routes across 10 states, excluding Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Terengganu, and Pahang.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia shares extensive land and maritime boundaries with Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines, along with international waters in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. While these border areas facilitate legitimate trade and the movement of people, they are also exploited for cross-border criminal activities. Mohd Khalid conveyed these insights during a speech read by Bukit Aman Special Branch E3A deputy director SAC Shaidatul Akmar Mohd Noor at the Ramadan Iftar event, attended by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Mohd Khalid highlighted the challenges of maintaining border security and stated that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has adopted a comprehensive, integrated, and phased border security strategy. This strategy aligns with national security priorities and adapts to the evolving regional geopolitical landscape. The approach is driven by principles of early prevention, focused enforcement, regional cooperation, and sustainable security management to ensure secure borders for the country.
To tackle the issue of illegal routes, PDRM has intensified land, river, and maritime patrols in coordination with other security agencies. The police force is also enhancing enforcement cooperation and information sharing with international enforcement bodies. Mohd Khalid emphasized the importance of vigilant monitoring of border areas and tourism hotspots by PDRM and other security agencies to ensure the safety of visitors.
In his speech, Mohd Khalid also pointed out that Malaysia has bolstered its security framework through advanced surveillance technology, improved intelligence sharing, and close inter-agency cooperation. These efforts are supported by international partnerships to respond effectively to emerging threats, ensuring that Malaysia remains a safe and welcoming destination for travelers.