Police tighten border security following Tak Bai's explosion

SHAH ALAM – Police have increased its personnel and deployed the Air Force Operations assets to enhance border control following the explosion and shooting incident at Tak Bai town in Narathiwat, Thailand on Wednesday.

Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali said the assets would include the monitoring via helicopters and drones.

“We are in a state of readiness to face any eventuality.

“Apart from border control by members of PGA, the police have added more members and assets involving monitoring using helicopters and drones, "he said to Sinar Harian on Thursday.

He added that residents of nearby areas were advised to be careful and report to the police if they had detected anything suspicious.

On Wednesday, a viral video made its round on social media where it could be seen that gunshots were fired and bomb blasts took place in the neighbouring town.

Based on the video clip, the incident was believed to have occurred at about 9pm, which resulted in residents living on the border Malaysia-Thailand to panic.

The explosions and gunshots could also be heard clearly from Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat located just 500 metres across from Tak Bai.

The incident had also injured three of Thailand’s marine police volunteers.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry in a statement to Sinar Harian confirmed no Malaysian citizens were involved in the incident.

“So far, there are no Malaysians involved. It only involves Thailand’s security forces and its people, ”he said

Meanwhile, Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhammad Zaki Harun said aside from tightening the border control, the police would also exchange information with the Thai police to ensure that the border control was at its best.