Op Benteng : NTF mobilises 12,104 personnel to keep out illegals

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 -- The National Task Force (NTF) has mobilised 12,104 personnel to empower Op Benteng to check migrants from encroaching through the country’s borders especially via rat lanes.

Malaysian Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said it involved 19 other security and enforcement agencies including the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Immigration Department of Malaysia (IDM) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD).

He said the protection of the national borders and territorial waters could be boosted with the solid involvement and co-operation of personnel and assets from the security agencies under NTF without compromising the deployment of of MAF personnel and assets under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), especially in Sabah.

‘’NTF, through Op Benteng, implements the plan to strengthen the maritime control and patrols encompassing the implementation of the inquiry initiative and inspections and searches of boats along the waters of the east coast of Sabah under the first phase of Op Cegah Pati (OCP) starting on Sept 18. 

‘’With the implementation of phase one of OCP, 142 detentions involving migrants were made through 22 series of patrols which were carried out besides 176 air surveillances involving the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from May 12 in Sabah and Sarawak,’’ he said in a statement today.

He said the aspect of security control especially along the coast and islands on the east coast of Sabah was also empowered through patrols and safety check by the army and General Operations Force.

‘’The Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Immigration Department of Malaysia are also together to strengthen security enforcement at the national entry gates especially on the east coast of Sabah,’’ he said.

In addition, Affendi said society must co-operate by channelling any information on illegals, smuggling activities, border intrusions or any cross-border crime activities.

‘’They can do so through the NTF Operations Centre hotline, namely, at 011-6251 1223. The co-operation of all quarters is much appreciated in the effort to ensure this operation can be successfully implemented,’’ he added.

-- BERNAMA