MALAYSIANS CROSSING BORDER TO BUY FIREWORKS

Demand spikes as Raya nears

IT’S only the first week of Ramadan, but Malaysians, especially those from Kelantan, have started crossing over to the sub-province here to buy firecrackers and fireworks.

Despite the ban on the sale of these products, especially the dangerous types such as bottle rockets and sparklers, many

Thai traders are secretly selling the contraband here.

And their target clients are Malaysians.

One firecrackers trader here, who only wanted to be known as Kak Da’, said she had been selling the contraband at her rented shop for the past 10 years.

“I know sale of fireworks is banned in Thailand, but I am willing to take the risk because this is the time I can earn some income.

“On top of the small firecrackers which are allowed to be sold, I am also selling the more dangerous types,” said the mother of four, who is assisted by her husband at the shop. Kak Da’ said she started selling firecrackers a week before Ramadan following big demand from clients, especially from Kelantan and other states in Malaysia.

Many Malaysians were seen buying various types of firecrackers and fireworks at her shop, which operates every day including weekends.

They cross over to Takbai town using passenger boats at the many illegal jetties at Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat.

Takbai is one of the three sub-provinces of southern Thailand which borders Kelantan. It is separated from Pengkalan Kubor by Sungai Golok. The other two subprovinces are Sungai Golok town and Buketa.

Sungai Golok mayor Suchada Pannarai was reported as saying recently that the Thai government had stepped up operations against the sale of firecrackers and fireworks along the Malaysia-Thailand border areas.

She said the move was necessary following increased demand in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Suchada said stern action would be taken against locals found selling the contraband.