Improving Security and Enforcement Agencies Issues and Challenges in Dealing with Illegal Immigrants at Malaysia-Thailand Border

The Malaysia-Thailand border is one of the routes chosen by illegal immigrants to enter the country. Enforcement agencies face various issues and challenges in order to ensure that the security of the Malaysia-Thailand border is secured and protected. Several governments and law enforcement agencies are responsible for protecting Malaysian sovereignty in the face of such threats. This research has three objectives, namely 1) to identify the root causes of the illegal immigrant’s problem at the Malaysia-Thailand border; 2) to identify the issues and challenges of enforcement in dealing with illegal immigrants at the Malaysia-Thailand border; 3) to analyse the implementation of Coordinated Border Management to improve the security conditions at Malaysia-Thailand border. This research applies the concept of Coordinated Border Management. This research used a qualitative method with data obtained from secondary data such as books, theses, journal papers and online data were collected. The findings revealed 1) the arrivals of illegal immigrants to Malaysia were due to push factors such as the political crisis in the country of origin and pull factors that attract attention such as job opportunities; 2) enforcement agencies face various issues and challenges such as lack of manpower, assets, laws, and attitudes of local people; and 3) the Coordinate Border Management implementation can impose security through domestic and international border management. Therefore, enforcement agencies and government must coordinate their efforts immediately in order to improve the efficacy and efficiency of border procedures. Issues and challenges faced by the enforcement agencies in dealing with illegal immigrants at the Malaysia-Thailand border can be addressed through the implementation of a coordinated border management concept through the domestic and international corporations.

Sempadan Malaysia-Thailand merupakan antara laluan pilihan pendatang tanpa izin untuk memasuki negara ini. Agensi penguatkuasa berdepan dengan pelbagai isu dan cabaran bagi memastikan keselamatan sempadan Malaysia-Thailand sentiasa terpelihara. Kerajaan dan agensi penguatkuasa bertanggungjawab untuk melindungi kedaulatan Malaysia dalam menghadapi ancaman tersebut. Terdapat tiga objektif dalam kajian ini iaitu 1) Mengenal pasti punca kemasukan pendatang tanpa izin di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand; 2) Mengenal pasti isu dan cabaran penguatkuasaan dalam menangani pendatang tanpa izin di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand; 3) Menganalisis pelaksanaan Pengurusan Sempadan Berselaras untuk menambah baik keadaan keselamatan di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand. Penyelidikan ini telah menggunakan konsep Pengurusan Sempadan Berselaras. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif dengan data yang diperolehi daripada sumber sekunder seperti buku, tesis, artikel jumal serta maklumat yang diperolehi secara atas talian. Dapatan kajian mendapati 1) kedatangan pendatang tanpa izin ke Malaysia disebabkan faktor pendorong seperti krisis politik di negara asal dan faktor tarikan yang menarik perhatian seperti peluang pekerjaan; 2) agensi penguatkuasaan menghadapi pelbagai isu dan cabaran seperti kekurangan tenaga kerja, aset, undang-undang, dan sikap penduduk tempatan; dan 3) Pelaksanaan Pengurusan Sempadan Berselaras meningkatkan dan mengatasi kelemahan pengurusan sempadan Malaysia-Thailand menerusi kerjasama domestik dan antarabangsa. Oleh yang demikian, agensi penguatkuasa dan kerajaan perlu menyelaraskan usaha mereka dengan segera bagi meningkatkan keberkesanan dan kecekapan prosedur sempadan. Isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh agensi penguatkuasaan dalam menangani pendatang tanpa izin di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand boleh ditangani melalui pelaksanaan konsep pengurusan sempadan yang diselaraskan melalui kerjasama domestik dan antarabangsa.