Border security beefed up after blast on Thai side

KOTA BARU: The Royal Malaysia Police have tightened security at the Malaysia-Thailand border following a bomb explosion and gunfire in Narathiwat province.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the police would also collaborate with Thai authorities.

“The safety of residents living near the border area must be prioritised, including the safety of our police personnel on duty,” he told Bernama.

Four Thai security personnel were injured in the incident, which occurred at Kampung Pasemas, Sungai Golok in Narathiwat province in Thailand just after midnight yesterday.

Razarudin said all state police chiefs, especially those from Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah and Perak, have also been instructed to be on high alert following the incident.

The Commander of the South-East Brigade of the General Operations Force, Senior Asst Comm Sheik Azhar Sheik Omar, said his team is on standby, including conducting foot and motorcycle patrols along the 16 static posts near the border.

“We believe the incident occurred near the Rantau Panjang border area. We have 16 static posts along Sungai Golok, starting from Pos Ibrahim Pencen to Pos Ular in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat,” he said.

SAC Sheik Azhar added that roadblocks had been mounted since 6am with six members operating continuously.

Earlier, a video clip related to the incident went viral after it was uploaded by local residents on Facebook and TikTok.

Meanwhile, Sungai Golok district police chief Pol Col Jadsadavit Inprapan said the four Thai security personnel in a four-wheel drive vehicle were on their way to Sungai Golok when the bomb exploded.

“The bomb is believed to have been planted by wanted criminals along the route used by security personnel vehicles.

“During the explosion, the suspects also fired several shots at the security personnel. In defence, the security personnel fired back at the suspects, prompting them to flee the scene,” he said.

The injured security personnel were taken to Sungai Golok hospital.

Jadsadavit said initial police investigations also found a white sedan vehicle with a foreign plate number at the scene.