KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 — Approximately 540 illegal routes have been identified nationwide as of February, said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
He said they included 360 land routes and 24 maritime routes across 10 states, excluding Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Terengganu, and Pahang.
“Malaysia has extensive land and maritime boundaries with Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines, as well as international waters in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
“These border areas serve not only as routes for legitimate trade and movement of people but are also exploited for cross-border criminal activities,” he said during the Ramadan Iftar event with Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing today.
Khalid's speech was read out by Bukit Aman Special Branch E3A deputy director SAC Shaidatul Akmar Mohd Noor during the National Security Overview session at the event, which was organised by the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry and Tourism Malaysia.
He added that although maintaining border security poses various challenges, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has adopted a comprehensive, integrated, and phased border security strategy that aligns with national security priorities and is responsive to the evolving regional geopolitical landscape.
The approach is guided by the principles of early prevention, focused enforcement, regional cooperation, and sustainable security management to ensure the nation's borders remain secure.
“To address the issue of illegal routes, PDRM has intensified land, river, and maritime patrols in an integrated manner with other security agencies, while strengthening enforcement cooperation and information sharing with foreign enforcement bodies,” Khalid said.
PDRM, together with other security agencies, continues to maintain vigilant monitoring of border areas and tourism hotspots to safeguard visitors' well-being.
The IGP noted that Malaysia has strengthened its security framework through advanced surveillance technology, enhanced intelligence sharing, and close inter-agency cooperation, supported by international partnerships, to respond effectively to emerging threats.
“These proactive efforts ensure that Malaysia remains a safe and welcoming destination for visitors,” he said.
