Enhancements made to border control strategies, patrolling - Bukit Aman

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Abd Rahim Jaafar said among the improvements made was to involve more personnel during the patrols.

"Besides that, the VAT 69 Commando team, the Federal Reserve Unit’s horseback unit, armored vehicles, as well as the use of drones and aerial patrols using helicopters have helped the General Operations Force (GOF) conduct better surveillance at the border," he told Bernama.

Commenting on GOF personnel merely using pistols while on duty, he said the firearm was only used during intelligence gathering assignments, while rifles were used during GOF patrols.

In another development, Abd Rahim said the police had held talks with Thai authorities to curb smuggling activities at the country's border area.

"There have already been discussions between the Royal Thai Police and the Perlis Police chief (Datuk Surina Saad) due to the (shooting) incident in Perlis," he said.

On Wednesday, Bernama reported that a GOF personnel suffered minor injuries after he was shot at while on duty at the Malaysia-Thailand border near Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah.

A day earlier, two GOF personnel had an encounter with smugglers at the TS9 Post near Padang Besar, Perlis, in which Sergeant Baharuddin Ramli, 54, was killed, while Sergeant Norihan Tari, 39, was seriously injured.

Following the incidents, the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and the Criminal Investigation Department have placed additional assets and personnel along the Malaysia-Thailand border.