PUTRAJAYA - About 200 veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) are expected to join the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) starting in the first quarter of this year, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said currently, a number of positions for MAF veterans to join AKPS have been approved by Public Service Department (JPA) and the recruitment process will be carried out in the near future.
"(The admission of) 200 (veterans) is for the start and I believe that if this can be done, it will be different from us taking fresh recruitment or if we take personnel from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) or the Immigration Department.
"They (MAF veterans) have certain skills, ideally we hope we can complete the exercise in the first quarter,” he said in a press conference after the Home Minister’s session with AKPS staff here today.
Also present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and AKPS director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
Saifuddin Nasution said the recruitment of MAF veterans would involve former Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel.
"They are a unique asset... which will help in terms of AKPS human resources.
"The ex-military will start with a minimum age of 38 years, our target is for them to still be fit and energetic," he said.
Previously, Mohd Shuhaily said AKPS would begin recruiting 220 MAF veterans in stages and the initiative announced under Budget 2026 would be implemented through a contract-based appointment method after allocations were received.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when presenting Budget 2026, earlier announced that priority would be given to MAF veterans to fill AKPS' manpower needs to get the agency in full readiness. - BERNAMA