Hishammuddin: Tighter security and more patrols at borders

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will tighten security at its borders following the recent spate of militant and terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries and deploy more assets to these areas.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he had ordered the armed forces to beef up patrols across the entire border.

“This is because of the incidents that have taken place in three of our neighbours – the bombing at a hospital in Bangkok, bombing in Kam­pung Melayu, Jakarta, and the wor­sening conflict between Filipino forces and militants in Marawi City, Mindanao.

“In Sabah, the armed forces will deploy more assets, including two additional ships for patrols and placing Quick Reaction Force members along with the troops already operating on the islands off the state,” Hishammuddin said in a statement here yesterday.

“Additional combat boat patrols at strategic locations and the deployment of an additional company of infantry at the Cenderawasih, La­­had Datu area, are to make sure the Lahad Datu coastline is fully guarded,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that he had also spoken to the defence mi­nisters of the three countries and pledged that Malaysia, through its armed forces, would work closely with its neighbours to ensure se­curity in the region.

Adding that he had also spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, on the matter, he said the security landscape of the world was becoming increasingly challenging.

“The recent terrorist attacks in Egypt, Manchester, Paris, Stock­holm, Iraq and Afghanistan prove the threat is real,” he said.