KUALA LUMPUR. MALAYSIA, Oct 23, 2025 – Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced a budget allocation of RM21.2 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) next year, with a focus on purchasing security assets and maintaining facilities for uniformed agencies.
He made the announcement during the KDN Monthly Assembly hosted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) here today. Also present were the APMM Director-General, Dato’ KSU, Dato’ Awang Alik Jeman, and Inspector-General of Police, Dato’ Sri Khalid.
“In this budget, RM1 billion is allocated for the purchase and maintenance of security assets, while another RM1.5 billion is for the construction and upgrading of facilities for uniformed agencies,” said Saifuddin during a media conference after the assembly.
He listed three main priorities: the Kelantan State Maritime Headquarters Complex in Tok Bali, the Kudat Maritime Zone Complex in Sabah, and the Integrated Labuan Maritime Zone Complex, which will be shared with the Marine Police Force.
Maritime Facility Priorities to Address SCS Threats
Saifuddin explained that the Kelantan State Maritime Headquarters Complex is a priority due to its location facing the South China Sea (SCS), where APMM plays a crucial role in addressing threats such as human smuggling, weapons, drugs, and contraband.
“We also face threats from illegal fishing that cause significant losses to the country. From a logistics perspective, we are still focused on the northern side. Therefore, this complex is needed to ensure the readiness level of APMM personnel,” he added.
For the Kudat Maritime Zone Complex, he emphasized its position in a high-risk area for smuggling, making it an urgent need raised by KDN.
Meanwhile, the Labuan Complex is given integrated status for use by both APMM and the Marine Police, which respectively cover areas up to 200 nautical miles (Exclusive Economic Zone) and smaller waters.
“From the perspective of this shared complex, we hope all Marine Police and APMM assets can utilize the same logistics facilities,” he stated.
Saifuddin added that the total allocation is tailored to APMM’s duties, which was established through the merger of the Marine Department and the Fisheries Department to control national waters.
Clarification on APMM Elite Training Incident at Rusila Mosque
In the second matter, Saifuddin clarified the incident at Rusila Mosque in Kemaman, Terengganu, which was raised during yesterday’s assembly. He denied any unusual occurrence, while confirming it involved APMM elite training.
Like the military with PASKAU (Air Force) and PASKAL (Navy), APMM now trains its own elite force with specialized modules, including survival and evasion – where members must disguise themselves as fishermen or other characters to avoid capture.
On September 19, this training involved a route from Kuala Berang to Kemaman, ending at the Royal Malaysian Maritime Academy (AMSAS) in Kuantan. Six members stopped at Rusila Mosque, right by the roadside, for Asar prayers.
“I have reviewed the CCTV footage, and nothing unusual was found. I also contacted the Terengganu Police Chief – a police report was filed by the mosque imam on September 29, ten days after the incident,” he said.
Immediate action was taken, including a meeting between police, mosque management, and the Marang Member of Parliament (PAS President). “Conclusion: no unusual matters, just a minor misunderstanding, and both parties are satisfied. There was no news, and newspapers did not report it until yesterday.”
However, he criticized the re-raising of the issue in the Dewan Rakyat, including statements by the Pendang Member of Parliament linking it to “intent to kill” and comparing it to the Memali incident.
“That is excessive. If Members of Parliament take such a stance, imagine the netizens’ reaction. This is what I mean by being cautious on security issues,” Saifuddin stressed.
He called for information to be conveyed fairly, whether in the Dewan or outside, to avoid causing public anxiety. “We need to protect the feelings of victims’ families from past events like May 13 or Memali. The country needs to live in peace and security.”
Response to Media Questions: Misuse of Parliamentary Platform
In the Q&A session, Saifuddin addressed claims that Members of Parliament are misusing the Dewan Rakyat platform to spread false facts and create anti-government sentiment.
“If asked of me, it is very clear. The behavior of Members of Parliament in the Dewan is governed by Standing Orders. It is their duty to be responsible when raising any matter,” he replied.
He added: “I want to ensure the public gets an accurate picture of the actual incident. The parliamentary platform must be used with full responsibility, and we must also be prepared to be held accountable.
“When it is dragged to the point of being compared to the Memali incident – that is over the top. We do not want the public to keep talking about events involving loss of lives. Do not use the platform for political sentiment alone.”
The assembly was attended by senior KDN officials, with a focus on improving maritime security operations amid regional threats.
