Zulkifeli affixing the rank of Territorial Army honorary colonel on Elmi Yusoff, assisted by Elmi’s wife Datin Azlina Md Zuki.— Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) is ready to take over full surveillance of the country’s international border if ordered to do so, said its chief, General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.
“We (ATM) will only act upon receiving orders from the national level,” he said when commenting on a proposal that the government should take drastic measures, including placing military personnel at the national border to contain threats to national security and defence.
At present the responsibility to safegaurd the national border is under the control of the General Operations Force (GOF) and assisted by ATM.
“Currently ATM is entrusted with safeguarding the Malaysia-Thailand border that starts from the easternmost part at Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat, Kelantan right to the west at the Kedah state border.
“The surveillance of the Perlis and Thailand border is under the jurisdiction of the GOF and Malaysian Royal Police Force,” he told reporters after officiating at the donning of rank Territorial Army honorary colonel to Datuk Elmi Yusoff, who is the senior private secretary to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Zulkifeli said he had held discussions with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and the latter asked that the police continued to carry out border surveillance until a study was conducted by the Home Ministry.
He said the matter would also be discussed at the ATM and police taskforce committee meeting in October.
Commenting on the latest development on the two sea bases in the Sulu Sea in Sabah, Zulkifeli said the Tun Azizan and Tun Sharifah Rodziah sea bases were almost completed.
“All the placement and construction works at both bases are running smoothly and we have conducted trainings and preparation to ensure the effectiveness of the placement asset,” he said.
He said both the sea bases would be commissioned soon. — Bernama