Malaysia considers upgrading cargo scanning systems to strengthen detection of prohibited goods

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Upgrade cargo scanning systems

Highlights

Malaysia is considering investing in cargo scanning system upgrades featuring diffraction technology and AI to improve the accuracy of prohibited-goods detection.
132 of the 184 cargo and baggage scanners at major entry points are equipped with AI, but detection efficiency still depends on data, system configuration and officers.
The assets and inspection functions of the Customs Department will be transferred to the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency from 1 Oct 2025, marking a restructuring of border control operations.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Proposed technology upgrades and the role of AI

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said investment in upgrading existing scanning systems should receive due attention in line with rapid technological advances. He told the Dewan Rakyat that technologies such as diffraction should be considered to improve inspection accuracy, particularly in distinguishing materials with similar physical appearances, such as drugs and powdered milk.

He said detection weaknesses in Malaysia could mean that prohibited materials missed here are identified in other countries with more advanced machines, including Australia. He said the use of AI in scanning systems still needed improvement, particularly in data collection to enhance detection accuracy, based on his observations during visits to Malaysia Airlines cargo operations and Port Klang.

Hasbi said some scanning machines at airports had each collected around 15,000 and 8,000 data records to improve the efficiency of their AI systems. However, he said the technology was still unable to accurately identify certain objects, making regular updates and testing of scanning systems at cargo terminals relevant.

Implications for border control and inspection operations

Hasbi said the experience and competence of inspection officers remained important in the inspection process, especially when scanning systems detected anomalies or suspicious objects requiring further scrutiny and physical inspection. He made the remarks in response to a supplementary question about the role of officers when scan results conflicted with their assessments.

In response to the original question about the current capability of AI scanners at cargo terminals to detect the smuggling of dangerous goods, he said 132 of the 184 cargo and baggage scanners at the country's main entry points were equipped with AI-based technology. He also said the assets and inspection functions of the Customs Department were being transferred gradually to the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) from 1 Oct 2025, in line with the implementation of the AKPS Act 2024, Act 860.

He added that AI could potentially improve detection capabilities through image analysis and object recognition, but its effectiveness depended on the type of technology, system configuration, data availability, algorithms, detection accuracy and the competence of security officers. For the logistics and border control sectors, this suggests that upgrading scanning equipment alone may not be enough without stronger data integration and ongoing operational training.

In our earlier coverage of sovereign AI cloud development, we discussed the government's efforts to build a self-governed cloud environment to protect official documents and sensitive information from the security risks of public cloud services. The article also covered implementation by relevant agencies and the need to strengthen local networks and datasets to support safer AI use aligned with the country's digital sovereignty.

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