(June 4): Malaysia needs to build a wall at the border areas to deal with many issues involving trans-border illegal activities, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

He said this was necessary as without a proper wall it would be difficult for any enforcement agencies to conduct surveillance.

Citing the example of the United States-Mexico border, Zahid said despite the sophisticated wall placed at the border of the two countries, there were 11 million illegals in the US.

“Even with the wall, there are 11 million illegals in the US, what more if there’s no physical and solid wall? Not only humans can be smuggled but also firearms, drugs as well as subsidised items to other countries,” said Zahid.

He said although such a project would be costly, the Cabinet has requested the Home Ministry to come up with a proposal paper on the matter.

“We have received five proposals to build the wall and the assets we need and we will forward the proposals to the agencies involved to decide which wall system is the best to be implemented.”

The paper consisting the proposals will be tabled as soon as possible.

On surveillance at borders, Zahid said the Cabinet has decided that it would involve the police and army personnel.

Last month, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the construction of a wall would probably be more effective in securing the border areas, as the security forces were incapable of monitoring more than 100 "rat trails" along the 700km border separating Malaysia and Thailand.

The deputy home minister said he was also scheduled to meet with the menteris besar of Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan soon to inform them of the ministry's new instructions for the security personnel at the border to increase surveillance.

Malaysia in the spotlight following to the discovery of mass graves at a human-trafficking camp in Perlis recently.

Police reportedly said some 28 human trafficking camps and 139 graves were found in Wang Kelian. – The Malaysian Insider