New MCBA Service Scheme Poised To Overhaul Border Agency's Structure And Discipline

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Checkpoints and Border Agency (MCBA) is poised to introduce its own dedicated service scheme next year, signifying a major step in overhauling the agency's structure, culture, and discipline at the nation's entry points. 

Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the scheme would not only end reliance on recruiting officers from six core agencies but also form the foundation for building a disciplined work culture centred on compliance, following orders, and ingraining a formal "chain of command".

These core agencies are the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Immigration Department, Road Transport Department, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Ministry of Health, and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department.

"Once our own MCBA Scheme is established, we will be permitted to conduct new recruitment. One of the key aspects I will emphasise is respect for authority, discipline and the chain of command, not merely understanding it, but fully embedding the culture. You are going to be regimented.

"It will be a regimented approach, purely to instil discipline and to change the current state of affairs. This is the best opportunity for us to implement this reform, as everyone has been saying, 'This has been going on for too long—how much longer must we continue like this?', he said during a media briefing on MCBA's achievements and its direction for 2026, held here.

Mohd Shuhaily said the service scheme will enable the agency to forge its own professional identity and ensure that every newly appointed member is genuinely suited to the operational requirements and embodies the core values it seeks to instil.

He emphasised that the initiative aligns with the government's aspiration to reinforce national entry point controls to be more effective, transparent and trusted by the public, while also ensuring the MCBA develops as an integrated and professional border security agency.

He added that the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, has acknowledged and endorsed the move and is now actively working towards its implementation.

"The Chief Secretary has mandated a monthly operational committee meeting. In that forum, the issues I raised earlier have been heard, and he has directed that action be taken. Consequently, many processes have been fast-tracked. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to making this a reality," he said.

Mohd Shuhaily also expressed his personal aspiration to see the establishment of an official MCBA  detachment in time for next year’s National Day on Aug 31. 

Commenting on efforts to instil a 'chain of command' culture, Mohd Shuhaily pointed out that the current work culture across the six core agencies involved is still not fully 'regimented', despite each one having its own rank and training systems.

He illustrated this with an example: the longstanding directive prohibiting immigration officers from using mobile phones at inspection counters, which has yet to be fully complied with.

"This directive has been in place for decades, issued by the Director-General of Immigration. I feel I’ve talked myself hoarse, written the orders—my pen is nearly worn out—yet it still happens. Why? Because they do not respect the chain of command. If this continues, it is as if I am turning a blind eye," he said.

Consequently, Mohd Shuhaily stressed that change within the national border control service is inevitable and aligns with public demand and expectation.

"This change is inevitable. It can no longer be avoided because the public is calling for it. How long can we continue to deny the people's wish for this reform?

"The complaints are coming from the public, the citizens. In implementing this change, there will be negative reactions and risks, but I am willing to take that risk to fulfill the government’s intent and the people's will," he concluded.

-- BERNAMA