KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Dec 22 – The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, YBhg General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hj Affendi bin Buang TUDM has completed the Op BENTENG Appreciation Ceremony 2020 – 2022 in conjunction with the Disbanding of the National Task Force (NTF). Referring to NSC Session No. 2 of 2022, it was agreed that the NTF will officially be dissolved on 31 December 2022. This ceremony was held as a sign of recognition and appreciation to all agencies, components and citizens of the NTF covering various levels involved in making Operation BENTENG a success.

The National Task Force (NTF) is a Task Force consisting of the collaboration of 19 government agencies at the beginning of its establishment on 06 May 2020 and became 18 agencies when the Malaysian Border Control Agency (AKSEM) was officially dissolved on 30 December 2022. Op BENTENG through the authority of Act 342 which is the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 1988, has been mobilized by the NTF to combat the entry of Illegal Immigrants (PATI) into the country and curb the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic as directed by the National Security Council (MKN) on 29 April 2020.

The NTF has succeeded in achieving the objectives that have been entrusted to it and it has been proven by the series of NTF successes through the implementation of Op BENTENG which has yielded results. The government’s decision and the government’s investment at that time on the creation of the NTF not only succeeded in controlling the entry of illegal aliens and cross-border crime, but more importantly, the existence of the NTF successfully combined so many branches of enforcement and security agencies in the government.

The NTF, which was established as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, has triggered the need for government agencies to sit together to overcome the country’s new challenges. These efforts are necessary to curb the entry of illegal immigrants in controlling the spread of the epidemic of COVID-19. This has reinforced the need for government agencies to be united in the “Whole of Government” concept, which is to mobilize the entire government machinery in overcoming challenges in the future.

The integration of the three land, sea and air components under the NTF has also successfully proven the excellent competence of security and enforcement personnel as well as the integrity of the integration of the communication system practiced in the field. It has been proven through the increase in the statistics of the arrests of illegal immigrants and the value of the loot, of which RM 1.10 billion worth of loot has been successfully collected from May 2020 to 26 December 2022. A total of 7,490 arrests involving 1,444 illegal immigrants, 23,894 illegal aliens and 1,377 people in the same period.

The handing over of Operation BENTENG Coffee Table Book Version 2 was also held involving all the Directors General from the 18 agencies concerned. In appreciation of the service and contribution of NTF Headquarters staff, PAT and KPN also pinned NTF pins to senior officers from ATM, PDRM, APMM and JIM who serve at NTF Headquarters.

Also present at the ceremony were the Chief of Police, Inspector General Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Acryl Sani bin Haji Abdullah Sani, Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Admiral Dato’ Mohd Zubil bin Mat Som, Director General of the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM). Dato’ Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daut, NTF Commander Vice Admiral Dato’ Roslan bin Mohamad Yunus, MKN Deputy Director General Mr. Hamzah bin Ishak as well as senior officers from Security and Enforcement agencies involved in Operation BENTENG.

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