The Ministry of Home Affairs — Kementerian Dalam Negeri, abbreviated KDN and known in English as MOHA — is the Malaysian federal ministry responsible for internal security, public order, immigration, civil registration, societies and censorship. It was formed in its current shape on 18 March 2008, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs (KHEDN) and the Ministry of Internal Security (KKDN) were merged after the 12th General Election. It runs the enforcement bodies most Malaysians deal with directly — among them the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Immigration Department, the Prison Department and the National Registration Department (JPN) — from its headquarters in Complex D, Putrajaya, at moha.gov.my.
- KDN took its current form on 18 March 2008, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs (KHEDN) and the Ministry of Internal Security (KKDN) merged after the 12th General Election
- As of 2026 the Home Minister is Datuk Seri Panglima Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail (in office since 3 December 2022); the Secretary-General is Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman
- KDN was allocated RM21.2 billion under Budget 2026 — up RM1.7 billion from RM19.5 billion in 2025 — to strengthen security assets, uniformed-personnel facilities, border control and cyber-crime capability
- Its federal departments include PDRM, Immigration (JIM), the Prison Department, National Registration (JPN), the Registry of Societies (ROS), the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA), the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and ESSCOM
- The new Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency (AKPS), created under Act 860 and gazetted 17 October 2024, consolidates border enforcement and supersedes the former land-border agency AKSEM
Who this applies to: Anyone learning how Malaysia's internal-security and enforcement machinery is organised, and readers who need to know which KDN agency handles a given task — a passport, a MyKad, a police report, a society registration or a film rating.
On this page
When a Malaysian renews a passport, when the police make an arrest, when a foreign worker’s permit is checked, or when a film is rated for release — the same ministry stands behind all four. That ministry is the Ministry of Home Affairs, known in Malay as Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) and in English as MOHA.
KDN is the federal ministry for Malaysia’s internal affairs — internal
security, public order, immigration, civil registration, societies and
censorship. Its official portal is moha.gov.my, and its mission, in its own
framing, is to administer internal-security policy so that the nation’s
sovereignty, integrity, peace and interests are safeguarded from internal
security threats.
What is KDN, and where did it come from?
The ministry took its current shape on 18 March 2008, when the Prime Minister merged the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri, KHEDN) and the Ministry of Internal Security (Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, KKDN) into one ministry during the Cabinet reorganisation after the 12th General Election. That consolidation is why police, prisons and anti-drug functions now sit in the same portfolio as immigration, registration and societies.
| Official name | Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Home Affairs) |
| Abbreviations | KDN (Malay), MOHA (English) |
| Formed (current shape) | 18 March 2008 |
| Headquarters | Block D1 & D2, Complex D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62546 Putrajaya |
| Website | moha.gov.my |
| Minister (as of 2026) | Datuk Seri Panglima Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail (since 3 Dec 2022) |
| Secretary-General | Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman |
| 2026 allocation | RM21.2 billion |
How big is its budget?
KDN was allocated RM21.2 billion under Budget 2026 — an increase of RM1.7 billion from RM19.5 billion in 2025. Wikipedia records the figure precisely as MYR 21,182,930,100. The extra money is earmarked to strengthen security assets and uniformed-personnel facilities, enhance border control, and build capability against cyber threats and digital crime.
Which agencies come under KDN?
Most of KDN’s public-facing power is exercised not by headquarters staff but by the enforcement bodies under it — federal departments and various statutory agencies and boards.
| Federal departments | Statutory agencies & boards |
|---|---|
| Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) | National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) |
| Immigration Department (JIM) | Institute of Public Security of Malaysia (IPSOM) |
| Prison Department | Anti-Trafficking-in-Persons council (MAPO) |
| National Registration Department (JPN) | Prevention of Crime Board |
| Registry of Societies (ROS) | Parole Board |
| People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) | Film Censorship Board |
| Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA/APMM) | Prevention of Terrorism Board |
| Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) | National Printing (PNMB) |
The KDN portal’s own agency list also names two bodies from recent restructuring: the Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency (AKPS) and the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
That structure explains why so many everyday encounters with the State trace back to one ministry: your MyKad and birth certificate (JPN), your passport and entry stamp (Immigration), a police report (PDRM), a registered NGO or club (ROS) and a film’s age rating (Film Censorship Board) are all KDN business.
What changed with the new border agency?
The biggest recent structural change is at the border. The Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency (AKPS) was established under the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency Act 2024 (Act 860), gazetted on 17 October 2024. It consolidates the enforcement of immigration, customs, quarantine, health and veterinary inspection across all land, sea and air entry points, superseding the former land-border agency AKSEM, and operates under KDN.
What’s next
Several of KDN’s departments have their own detailed pages worth reading next: the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for policing, the Immigration Department for who may enter and stay, and the National Registration Department (JPN) for identity documents. The working rule is simple: if it concerns Malaysia’s internal security, civil registration or entry controls, the trail leads back to KDN.
What is the difference between KDN and MOHA?
None — they are the same ministry. KDN is the Malay abbreviation (Kementerian Dalam Negeri) and MOHA is the English one (Ministry of Home Affairs). Its official portal is moha.gov.my.
Which agencies come under the Ministry of Home Affairs?
The KDN portal lists among its agencies the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), the Immigration Department, the Prison Department, the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the National Registration Department (JPN), the Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency (AKPS), ESSCOM, RELA, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
Who is the Minister of Home Affairs?
As of 2026 the Home Minister is Datuk Seri Panglima Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, in office since 3 December 2022. Cabinet portfolios change with reshuffles, so confirm the current officeholder on moha.gov.my.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Exact appointment date and current holder of the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs post (snippets suggested Shamsul Anuar Nasarah from 17 Dec 2025; confirm against a gov.my or Hansard source before stating a date).
- Verbatim official Vision (Visi), Mission (Misi) and Motto (Moto) text — MOHA publishes these only inside an image on the misi-visi-dan-teras page, so exact Malay wording must be transcribed from the image or an alternate official document before quoting.
- Current names/holders of the three Deputy Secretaries-General (Wikipedia lists them but should be cross-checked on moha.gov.my leadership pages).
- Precise, current status of IPCC (Independent Police Conduct Commission) replacing the EAIC — confirm commencement date and enabling Act (IPCC Act 2023 / Act 852) on lom.agc.gov.my before stating specifics.
- Exact list of statutes KDN administers (Immigration Act 1959/63, Societies Act 1966, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Film Censorship Act 2002, National Registration Act 1959, Prevention of Crime Act 1959, Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015) — confirm Act numbers on lom.agc.gov.my before listing.
- Whether RELA and PNMB are currently classified as departments vs. companies/agencies under the latest KDN org chart.
Sources
- Pengenalan — Kementerian Dalam Negeri — Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia (moha.gov.my)
- Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia) — Wikipedia
- Belanjawan 2026: Peruntukan besar KDN perkukuh aset, naik taraf kemudahan pasukan — Sinar Harian
- Kementerian Dalam Negeri — Official Portal (English) — Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia (moha.gov.my)
- Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency — Wikipedia
- Visi, Misi, Moto & Teras Utama — Kementerian Dalam Negeri — Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia (moha.gov.my)
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 14 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |