KUCHING: Sarawak is planning to buy off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and high capacity drones to keep watch on its borders to curb the spread of Covid-19 and the problem of smuggling.
In a statement today, Deputy Chief Minister James Masing Jemut said they would work with the state disaster management committee to gte funding for the equipment to beef up border security measures.
He said the equipment could help the enforcement agencies to aggressively monitor the border.
A good telecommunication network should also be set up between the enforcement agencies’ border posts and their headquarters to ensure information of any undesirable activities at the border is quickly channeled.
“In remote border posts like at Tapak Megah and Pandora (both located close to the Indonesia-Malaysia border in Kapit Division), the main concern is over the smuggling of goods or even drugs, and I suggest establishing ConnectMe broadband facilities at these posts,” he said.
Masing, who is also the Sarawak Border Security Committee (SBSC) chairman said the issue of illegal immigrants entering Sarawak was of grave concern as reports obtained from the relevant agencies revealed that 70% of the Covid-19 cases were imported.
Besides strengthening security at the border, he said, efforts should also be made to track down the masterminds behind the entry of illegal immigrants into the state.
“We need to nail down the masterminds and the tekong (human trafficker) in order to stop the infiltration of the illegal immigrants,” he added.