06/05/2026

WEDNESDAY | MAY 6, 2026

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KLIA must remain alert amid high visitor arrivals: Minister airport border security continues to face several challenges.

o Enforcement to be strengthened through risk profiling and intelligence-led checks, says Saifuddin SEPANG: KL International Airport’s (KLIA) main entry points must stay on high alert after visitor arrivals through Terminals 1 and 2 reached 4.6 million in the first three months of this year, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the increase, driven partly by preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026, is positive for tourism but places greater pressure on border control operations at the country’s main air gateway. “From the Home Ministry’s perspective, this high entry trend means the country’s main entry points must be at a high level of preparedness,” he noted. Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com SEPANG: The Border Control and Protection Agency will move towards equipping its personnel with weapons, with tasers possibly considered as an initial option, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the matter has been discussed in principle with Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and would be managed by the ministry soon. “Organisational discipline must be consistent. It cannot be disrupted. “We also want to move towards fully utilising technology to ensure smooth movement, while national security remains the top priority,” he said after inspecting KLIA Terminal 1 operations under the ministry’s Citra Negara programme yesterday. Saifuddin was accompanied by Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman, Border Control and Protection Agency director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain and Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. Briefing after the visit, he said PETALING JAYA: DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) has directed the party’s grassroots machinery to gear up for the possibility of early state elections in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor, according to its secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook. The directive was among several resolutions adopted at the CEC’s meeting on Monday night, as speculation mounts over the potential early dissolution of all three state assemblies. Under their current

maintenance components. He said the ministry would work to minimise such glitches, but they should be expected as part of the phased migration to the new system. On the new autogates, he said over 60 units would eventually be used for inbound and outbound movements at KLIA, with some already installed. He said travellers could clear checks through facial recognition, QR code or passport verification, with the process observed during his visit taking about four to five seconds. “This is significant because we do not want to face airport congestion, whether for departures or arrivals. This is a game changer. “I am satisfied with the performance shown through the use of this autogate system, which will replace the old system in phases.”

responsible for ensuring the smooth movement of passengers and goods, including preventing prohibited items such as drugs and weapons from entering through baggage. He said baggage control is guided by two main principles of screening and sorting, while separate “Nothing to Declare” and “Goods to Declare” lanes have been introduced to speed up passenger movement without weakening legal compliance. He added that enforcement would be strengthened through risk profiling and intelligence-led checks, in which inspections would focus on high-risk passengers instead of slowing down all travellers. Saifuddin said minor technical disruptions could occur during the transition from the old Malaysian Immigration System to National Integrated Immigration System as it involves system, infrastructure and

He cited attempts by travellers to evade inspection, failure to comply with entry conditions and misconduct within terminal areas among the risks faced by authorities. He said technology-driven monitoring has become more important, with KLIA alone equipped with nearly 5,000 CCTVs. “CCTV monitoring has become one of the most important tools in helping enforce all measures to address security issues. “I saw how every corner of the terminal is monitored. That is very helpful, especially for the Home Ministry through the Border Control and Protection Agency and Immigration Department, in detecting potential threats or breaches of the law.” Saifuddin said the agency is also

PETALING JAYA: A young accountant with royal matrilineal lineage has been elevated to one of Negeri Sembilan’s most significant traditional posts, with Muhammad Faris Johari ( pic ) named the 11th undang of Luak Sungei Ujong. The appointment was announced yesterday via a statement posted on the Majlis Dato Lembaga Adat Sungei Ujong Facebook page. It was issued by Waris Nan Tua Klana Hulu Orang Kaya Datuk Laksamana Shaharumzaman Abdul Malek, together with the Ibu Soko and Waris of Klana Hulu. The statement confirmed that the selection was reached by unanimous consensus and carried out free from outside influence, in accordance with Article 14(1) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959. The formal investiture ceremony took place on April 22 at Telaga Undang, conducted in keeping with adat and customary law, and was witnessed by representatives of the Ibu Soko Waris Negeri, Dato Lembaga Lingkungan, To Buapak Lingkungan and various government officials. The appointment was then confirmed by Tua Lembaga Waris di-Darat Datuk Andulika Mandalika Zainol Ariffin Ibrahim, who holds recognition from the Negeri Sembilan government. Muhammad Faris, 27, is the second son of Johari Meor Ngah and Ibu Soko Klana Hulu Shazlina Sinda Maharaja Abd Karim. Through his maternal lineage, he traces his descent directly to Datuk Klana Petra Bador Datuk Penghulu Menteri Chantek, the founding undang of Luak Sungei Ujong. Educated at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Beseri in Perlis, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Universiti Teknologi Mara before completing his professional qualification under the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants programme in 2022. He works as an accountant at Marsh, a multinational insurance and risk advisory firm with a presence in over 130 countries. He married Sharifah Amirah Syed Ismail Ash-Shahab on April 20, 2024. His appointment fills the vacancy left by Datuk Mubarak Dohak, whose dismissal was accepted by the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan following a special sitting at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah. Man with royal lineage named undang of Sungei Ujong Ű THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Saifuddin said minor technical disruptions could occur during the transition from the old Malaysian Immigration System to National Integrated Immigration System as the change involves system, infrastructure and maintenance components. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/ THESUN

Border control agency to arm personnel with weapons

backgrounds have firearms training and could be equipped accordingly. He added that the agency is allowed to recruit up to 200 personnel this year, with the first phase involving 50 personnel already completed. He also said the personnel would be deployed at several entry points, including KLIA and Port Klang, based on operational needs and their respective skills. – BY FAIZ RUZMAN Sembilan traces back to April 19, when former Sungei Ujong undang Mubarak Dohak and three fellow undangs announced that Tuanku Muhriz had been deposed as Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The state government dismissed the claim outright, noting that Mubarak had been removed from his position the prior year. The situation escalated on April 27 when all 14 Umno-Barisan Nasional assemblymen withdrew support for Aminuddin. – BY THE SUN TEAM

vary. There may be cases involving people in which firearms are not required,” he said. “But the bottom line is this: will the agency move towards the use of weapons? The answer is yes.” Asked whether commanders in high-risk areas would be armed, Saifuddin said it would depend on their background and operational requirements. He said commanders with police Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, after the ruler issued a decree for the state administration to carry on as normal. “DAP will continue to support and give its full backing to Aminuddin as Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.“ He reiterated the party’s commitment to constitutional monarchy, stressing that matters involving the royal institution and adat pepatih must be handled with due respect and in accordance with the federal and state constitutions. The political turbulence in Negeri

“This is our direction moving forward,” he told reporters after inspecting KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 operations yesterday. Saifuddin said tasers could be considered first as not every border situation requires firearms. “There is also a view that, to start with, perhaps taser guns should be considered first. “This is because border situations mandates, Negeri Sembilan’s assembly is scheduled to expire in August 2028 while Malacca and Johor are due for polls by early and mid-2027 respectively, unless dissolved sooner. On the question of Negeri Sembilan’s leadership, Loke made clear that DAP would oppose any move to replace Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, following a series of failed manoeuvres to destabilise the state’s Unity government. He affirmed the party’s loyalty to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku

DAP braces for possible snap polls in N9, Malacca and Johor