On November 24, a shootout occurred at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Padang Besar between Malaysia’s General Operations Force (GOF) and smugglers.
A GOF member Corporal Baharuddin Ramli, 54 was killed in the incident while Corporal Norihan a/l Tari was badly injured and is undergoing treatment at Penang Hospital.
According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador, before the incident, GOF members on duty had heard the sound of gunfire directed at the Border Wall TS9 control post from the other side of the country.
WHAT LED TO THE SHOOTOUT?
Abdul Hamid Bador said smugglers are becoming more aggressive and bolder in attacking GOF personnel on duty at the border.
Kelantan police chief DCP Shafien Mamat revealed that since January this year, 249 smugglers have been arrested by Malaysian enforcement authorities for attempting to sneak into the country along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
These smugglers, comprising locals and foreigners, were picked up at several hotspot locations along the border, including in Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, and Tumpat districts.
HAVE THE SUSPECTS BEEN ARRESTED?
The police have now obtained court permission to extend the remand on three local men and a Thai suspected to be involved in the shooting.
The remand on the Thai man and one of the locals, aged 27 and 45, was extended by six days (until Dec 8) while for the other two, aged 22 and 45, by seven days (until Dec 9).
Three of the suspects were caught while seeking treatment at hospitals in Thailand.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said Malaysian police have detained 19 people linked to the case so far, 15 are Malaysians and four Thai.
He said investigations found that the smugglers barter drugs from Thailand with ketum from Malaysia.
WHAT NOW?
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the National Task Force will be meeting this week to discuss how to further tighten border controls.
One of the measures considered is to increase armed forces personnel at the border area to strengthen security control.
The Perlis government said discussions will be held with Thai border authorities.
Armed forces Eighth Brigade commander Zamsari Abu Hassan said they have stepped intelligence activities, including the use of drones at hotspots.
