Border control strategies, patrolling enhanced – police

KUALA LUMPUR: Enhancements have been made to strengthen border control strategies and patrolling along the Malaysia-Thailand border since Thursday (November 26) to curb cross-border crime following the recent shooting incidents in the area.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Abd Rahim Jaafar said among the improvements made was to involve more personnel during the patrols.

"Besides that, the VAT 69 Commando team, the Federal Reserve Unit's horseback unit, armored vehicles, as well as the use of drones and aerial patrols using helicopters have helped the General Operations Force (GOF) conduct better surveillance at the border," he told Bernama.

Commenting on GOF personnel merely using pistols while on duty, he said the firearm was only used during intelligence gathering assignments, while rifles were used during GOF patrols.

In another development, Abd Rahim said the police had held talks with Thai authorities to curb smuggling activities at the country's border area.

"There have already been discussions between the Royal Thai Police and the Perlis Police chief (Datuk Surina Saad) due to the (shooting) incident in Perlis," he said.

On Wednesday, Bernama reported that GOF personnel Sgt Norihan a/l Tari suffered minor injuries after he was shot at while on duty at the Malaysia-Thailand border near Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah. A day earlier, two GOF personnel had an encounter with smugglers at the TS9 Post near Padang Besar, Perlis, in which Sergeant Baharuddin Ramli, 54, was killed, while Sergeant Norihan Tari, 39, was seriously injured.

Following the incidents, the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and the Criminal Investigation Department have placed additional assets and personnel along the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Meanwhile, Norihan has been transferred to the general ward in Penang Hospital (HPP) yesterday after showing improvement.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Abd Rahim Jaafar said Norihan was taken out of the intensive care unit but he is still being closely monitored and supervised by specialists.

“So far, he is still unable to accept any visitor as he needs to rest and the specialists are still evaluating whether to conduct a follow-up surgery for another bullet.

“I was told that the bullet is too close to his spine which might affect him if they try to remove it,” he told Bernama when contacted yesterday.

Norihan who was transferred from the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, Perlis on Wednesday, has successfully undergone surgery to remove two out of three bullets from his body after being shot by smugglers in a shootout at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Padang Besar, Perlis early Tuesday.