KOTA BARU: Smuggling syndicates have cut through the concertina barbed wire barrier, set up by security forces to curb cross-border crime, at several points along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
Kelantan police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat (pic) said a recent working visit found four locations where the wire had been cut along a 1.5km stretch from Rantau Panjang towards Tumpat in Kelantan.
"We have taken swift action by repairing all damaged sections to ensure that the country’s border defence is not compromised.
"Following the sabotage of this national security asset, we also launched enforcement action to track down those responsible," he said in a recent interview.
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He confirmed that several residents living near the border had been arrested after investigations linked them to the deed.
"This firm action is meant to send a clear message that we will not tolerate any parties colluding with smuggling syndicates," he said.
On the scope of the barrier installation, he said a RM100,000 structure has been put up in the Rantau Panjang area and has yet to be installed in other border areas such as Jeli or Tanah Merah.
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Comm Yusoff said the physical barrier is only a temporary measure pending the construction of a permanent security wall and fence approved by the government, with its timeline tied to the completion of the Integrated River Basin Development project.
To curb smuggling activities during this period, he said police will utilise an additional RM100,000 allocation from the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department to extend the installation of concertina wire by a further 1km towards Tumpat, while continuing to seek further funding from the government in stages.
In April, border enforcement agencies were empowered to detain and charge those found cutting the barbed wire installed along the border to curb smuggling.
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General Operations Force South-East Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Radzi Hussain was quoted as saying that those arrested could be charged with mischief involving property damage.
He said there had been recent incidents of barbed wire along the border being cut by smugglers, prompting intensified monitoring in hotspots.
Security control along the Kelantan-Thailand border spans 163km, with 91km along the Sungai Golok stretch. Monitoring covers several key districts including Tumpat, Rantau Panjang (Pasir Mas), Tanah Merah and Jeli.
A ban on illegal cross-border movement via illegal jetties along the Malaysia-Thailand border, particularly in the Sungai Golok area, has been in force since Dec 1, 2024. – Bernama
