The Effectiveness of Malaysia’s Strategy in Combating Cross-Border Crime

Cross border crime activities carried out by criminal syndicates continue to occur despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic and security instability in several regional countries has been a driving factor in the ongoing cross-border criminal activity and has implications for the security threats of Malaysia's land borders and waters. COVID-19 threat stemming from illegal immigrants demands the government tighten the country's border controls. In this regard, this research aims to analyse the effectiveness of Malaysia's strategy in combating cross-border crime. The research uses qualitative methods that include primary data from informant interviews, field observations and revisions of government documents, while skunder data is obtained from books, articles in academic journals, theses, public reports and newspaper articles. A summary of the study's findings has identified among the cross- border crimes identified during the COVID-19 pandemic: illegal immigrants, human trafficking, drug smuggling, foreign fishermen's boat invasion and cybercrime. Malaysia's strategy in combating cross-border crime is vital in ensuring that cross border criminal activities can be contained and the security of the country's borders can be controlled. Research finds NTF has effectively performed its role in combating cross-border crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of OP BENTENG by the NTF since 2020 has successfully strengthened the country's border controls against the threat of cross border crime. The effectiveness of the national strategy is also demonstrated by ESSCOM's achievement in controlling the security of ESSZONE despite the challenges. The sovereignty of the east coast region of Sabah continues to be maintained while ensuring the safety, public order and well¬ being of the people is always in good condition and under control through integrated operational coordination with the security, defence and enforcement forces in ESSZONE. Close cooperation between Malaysia's security agencies and neighbouring and international countries is essential to effectively tackle cross border crime. The cooperation of regional and international countries in various initiatives further strengthens the effectiveness of the country's strategy in curbing cross-border crime.

Kegiatan jenayah rentas sempadan yang dijalankan oleh sindiket jenayah terus berlaku meskipun berdepan pandemik COVID-19. Ketidakstabilan ekonomi dan keselamatan di beberapa negara serantau telah menjadi faktor pendorong kepada aktiviti jenayah rentas sempadan yang berterusan dan memberi implikasi terhadap ancaman keselamatan sempadan daratan dan perairan Malaysia. Ancaman COVID- 19 yang berpunca daripada pendatang haram menuntut kerajaan memperketatkan kawalan sempadan negara. Sehubungan itu, penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa keberkesanan strategi Malaysia dalam membanteras jenayah rentas sempadan. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif yang merangkumi data primer daripada temubual informan, pemerhatian lapangan dan semakan dokumen kerajaan, manakala data skunder diperolehi daripada buku, artikel dalam jumal akademik, tesis, laporan awam dan artikel akhbar. Ringkasan dapatan kajian telah mengenal pasti antara jenayah rentas sempadan yang dikenal pasti berlaku semasa pandemic COVID-19 adalah pendatang asing tanpa izin, penyeludupan manusia, penyeludupan dadah, pencerobohan Bot Nelayan Asing (BNA) dan jenayah siber. Strategi Malaysia dalam membanteras jenayah rentas sempadan adalah sangat penting dalam memastikan kegiatan jenayah rentas sempadan ini dapat dibendung dan keselamatan sempadan negara dapat dikawal. Penyelidikan mendapati, NTF telah melaksanakan perananya dengan berkesan dalam membanteras jenayah rentas sempadan semasa pandemik COVID-19. Pelaksanaan OP BENTENG oleh NTF mulai tahun 2020 telah berjaya mengukuhkan kawalan sempadan negara daripada ancaman jenayah rentas sempadan. Keberkesanan strategi nasional turut diperlihatkan melalui pencapaian ESSCOM dalam mengawal keselamatan ESSZONE meskipun berdepan dengan pelbagai cabaran. Kedaulatan wilayah pantai timur Sabah terus dipertahankan di samping memastikan keselamatan, ketenteraman awam dan kesejahteraan rakyat sentiasa berada dalam keadaan baik dan terkawal melalui penyelarasan operasi secara bersepadu dengan pasukan keselamatan, pertahanan dan penguatkuasaan di ESSZONE. Kerjasama erat antara agensi keselamatan Malaysia dengan negara jiran dan antarabangsa adalah penting untuk menangani jenayah rentas sempadan secara berkesan. Kerjasama negara serantau dan antarabangsa dalam pelbagai inistiatif memperkukuhkan lagi keberkesanan strategi negara dalam membendung jenayah rentas sempadan.