Latest news with #UniversitiPertahananNasionalMalaysia
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Expert: Fomema gaps let syndicates slip through
KUALA LUMPUR: A security expert has called on the government to tighten oversight of the Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema), citing weak inter-agency coordination and poor system checks that have left the agency vulnerable to exploitation by criminal syndicates. Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia's (UPNM) Faculty of Defence Studies and Management Professor Dr Mohd Mizan Aslam said the current Fomema system lacked a comprehensive verification process, making it susceptible to identity fraud and document forgery. "Although the system is centralised, the database and monitoring mechanisms are not thorough. This opens the door for syndicates to manipulate data and forge health certificates," he told the New Straits Times. He said Fomema currently processed medical certifications based solely on submitted documents, without verifying whether foreign workers had criminal records, previous deportations, or were using false identities. "This loophole has serious implications. Without accurate identity verification — via biometrics or inter-agency checks — syndicates will continue to exploit the system," he added. Mizan comments come in the wake of a recent crackdown by the Immigration Department on a forgery syndicate capable of producing up to 100 fake passports daily. The syndicate, which charged between RM100 and RM150 per fake passport, also manipulated the biodata of undocumented migrants to obtain Fomema health clearances. These forged medical documents were sold for between RM600 and RM1,000 each. He said this exposed clear weaknesses in the system, adding that syndicates were not just bypassing immigration rules, but also public health safeguards. "This situation could lead to the return of diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis B, especially as infected individuals from countries with weaker healthcare systems go undetected," he said. "Malaysia has successfully controlled these diseases through vaccination and health campaigns. But without effective screening, they could resurface and strain our health infrastructure." Mizan said that while international passport systems were generally secure, Fomema documents lacked similar safeguards. "Unlike passports, Fomema certificates do not have tamper-proof features like QR codes or digital watermarks. This makes them easier to forge and abuse," he said. To address the issue, Mizan urged the government to introduce biometric verification for all foreign worker medical screenings, strengthen access control to Fomema's database, and integrate its system with immigration and law enforcement agencies. He also proposed placing certified integrity officers at key government departments to monitor compliance and prevent internal collusion. While acknowledging growing concerns over the agency's integrity, Mizan stressed that Fomema should not be dismantled but reformed. "We shouldn't abandon Fomema. We need to upgrade its technology, tighten control mechanisms, and improve coordination across agencies so it can fulfil its role in safeguarding national interests," he said.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
UPNM, MHS Aviation Sign LoI To Drive Development Of UAS
-- Photograph for illustrative purposes LANGKAWI, May 21 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) today signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with MHS Aviation Berhad, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Berhad, to drive the development of unmanned aircraft technology in Malaysia. This strategic collaboration is part of the long-term efforts of both parties in strengthening the research, innovation and training ecosystem in the field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), a critical domain for the survival of national defence and the competitiveness of the country's high-tech industry. UPNM, in a statement, said that the LoI seals the joint commitment between academia and industry in strengthening the country's UAS technology capabilities through the development of academic modules and specialised field training related to UAS. "Also, the commitment to carry out joint research and knowledge sharing in a strategic and high-impact manner, improving the competencies of UPNM students and officers through industrial training as well as simulation learning and technical workshops," it said. The LoI was signed by UPNM Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad and MHS Aviation Bhd Chief Executive Officer Mohd Fakhrul Arifin Adinan at the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) Pavilion at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre, here. Arman Rumaizi, in the same statement, said the collaboration will strengthen the competitiveness of researchers and students and position UPNM as a hub of excellence in defence technology, in line with the strategic thrust of UPNM30. "This collaboration is an important stepping stone in realising the aspirations of UPNM 30, which emphasises a holistic approach in uniting military, academic, technological and industrial disciplines," he said. UPNM believes that this collaboration will create more efficient technology transfer, accelerate the development of highly skilled human capital and strengthen the country's strategic preparedness in facing modern security challenges. Meanwhile, Mohd Fakhrul expressed hope that the collaboration can develop the country's UAS capabilities from the grassroots by simultaneously forming human expertise and technological development. Apart from that, it also reflects Boustead's commitment to driving defence innovation and supporting the country's transformation agenda, he said. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial , @bernamatv , @bernamaradio Twitter : @ , @BernamaTV , @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial , @bernamatvofficial , @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
