BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The usually bustling 1km stretch near the Malaysia-Thailand border here fell eerily quiet after the early morning shooting incident involving the Malaysian border force commander.
Residents and nearby neighbours kept their distance, with only the distant hum of occasional vehicles breaking the silence.
Local traders and families are on edge amid heightened security and ongoing police investigations into the case.
Hawker Suhaimi Zainal Abidin, 50, said only his regular customers turned up at his stall before the breaking of fast, adding that business had dropped sharply.
“This place was always busy with lorry drivers and locals stopping by here. Now, it is very quiet.
“Maybe people are afraid to come out, especially those from nearby towns.
“We depend on daily income. When something like this happens, even for a few days, it affects us badly,” he said at his stall in Taman Seri Temin.
On Wednesday, Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Bukit Kayu Hitam commander Senior Asst Comm Mohd Nasaruddin Mohd Nasir was shot at in a pre-dawn incident near the border.
SAC Nasaruddin, who escaped unharmed, was on his way to perform Subuh prayers at a mosque when two men dressed in black and wearing full-face helmets approached his car on a motorcycle.
Nine people, including a Thai woman, have been detained in connection with the incident.
For resident Fatehah Zakaria, 44, the atmosphere after the shooting incident was tense, especially at night.
“After the shooting, many of us chose to stay indoors. Parents are worried about their children’s safety. Even simple activities, like going to the convenience shop, feel different now.
“We hope the authorities will swiftly restore a sense of normalcy. We understand investigations are ongoing, but we just want assurance that our area is safe,” she said.
Another resident, Adam Zahir, 43, said the incident had cast a shadow over the township’s reputation as a key northern gateway.
“This is a strategic border town. When violence happens here, it sends the wrong message.
“We have seen more patrol cars and roadblocks, which gives some comfort, but people are still shaken,” he said.
