BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Security controls along the Malaysia-Thailand border will be stepped up following recent developments and incidents in southern Thailand, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said the move was necessary to safeguard Malaysia’s security and sovereignty and prevent any untoward incidents from spilling into the country’s border areas.
“We are doing this not just because of activities like crime and smuggling, but also considering the incidents and current situation in southern Thailand.
“So, we want to ensure our country remains safe and can avoid any possible untoward incidents,” he told reporters after a working visit to the 5th Battalion of the Border Regiment (5 RS) at Bukit Kayu Hitam camp here yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said the regiment, which was formed specifically to guard the country’s borders, played a crucial role in safeguarding Malaysia’s sovereignty, particularly along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
He said border controls were carried out continuously, 24 hours a day throughout the year, through patrols and operations conducted with other security agencies, reported Bernama.
On the strength of 5 RS, Mohamed Khaled said the number of personnel stationed at the camp was currently sufficient to carry out its responsibilities.
He said border control operations from Perlis to Kelantan also involved several other army camps, with personnel deployed on a rotational basis.
These included camps in Gerik, Perak and Kelantan, ensuring operational capacity and readiness remained high.
The rotational approach also allowed personnel from different army formations and camps to gain experience and build competency in border security operations, he added.
Meanwhile, in his speech at the event, Mohamed Khaled said the Defence Ministry would prepare a Cabinet memorandum to expedite funding for the development of the camp.
He said the memorandum would cover the comprehensive development of the camp, including the construction of 205 armed forces family housing (RKAT) units.
“For the RKAT, we have planned and submitted it to the Public-Private Partnership Unit, and we are asking the government to expedite the approval so that married personnel can live in one area,” he said.
During the visit, Mohamed Khaled was briefed on the camp’s development, border operations and security, as well as the role of 5 RS in maintaining national sovereignty and border security.
He also inspected the construction of 10 new accommodation blocks at the camp, which began on June 20, 2024, and was completed on Feb 13 at a total cost of RM44.87mil.
Separately, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said allegations that subsidised fertiliser supplied under the Padi Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme had been used by separatist groups in southern Thailand to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs) should not be taken lightly.
He said Malaysian and Thai authorities had existing channels to investigate security-related allegations along the border, including claims that materials originating from Malaysia had been used in bomb-making.
“If there are such allegations, they need to be investigated. We have mechanisms to discuss matters like this with the Thai authorities,” he told reporters in Pasir Puteh.
Earlier, media reports said subsidised urea fertiliser supplied by a subsidiary of the National Farmers Organisation had allegedly been detected among materials used by separatist groups to produce IEDs in southern Thailand.
Thai authorities reportedly seized about 520kg of the fertiliser during an operation in Koh Sathon sub-district, Tak Bai, in southern Thailand last Friday.
