KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — The RM19 billion allocation for the Home Ministry under the Budget 2024 is meant to strengthen national security and ensure the ministry personnel’s welfare are well taken care of.
Its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this is in line with the ministry’s role of managing the various departments and agencies that ensure public safety and border controls.
“The ministry functions under 51 parliamentary acts, through seven main cores, including strengthening security and public order, management of detainees, border, maritime and entry control, foreign national management affairs, drug rehabilitation and prevention, empowering communities, industries and ministry personnel welfare.
“The ministry has around 120,000 police personnel, 15,000 immigration department personnel, and 60,000 People’s Volunteer Corps personnel, among others, so the RM19 billion allocation allows us to make improvements in various aspects, especially personnel welfare,” he said.
Saifuddin said this as a guest on RTM’s Naratif Khas programme entitled ‘Post Budget 2024: Strengthening Unity and National Security’ last night.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had raised the allocation for the Home Minister to RM19 billion when tabling the Budget 2024 on October 13, a RM500 million increase compared to 2023.
Saifuddin said the allocation would enable land and maritime border controls to be improved to curb illegal activities in those areas.
“Our land borders span about 4,000km while sea borders are around 590,000 sq km and various crimes like cigarette smuggling and illegal fishing occur in these areas. The estimated loss (from cross-border crimes) is around RM5 billion annually.
“Therefore the impact is of great concern if our land and sea security measures are neglected or inefficient. That’s part of the justification for the ministry’s allocation,” he added.
— Bernama
