KOTA BARU: A growing number of young people in Kelantan, including teenage boys and girls, are frequenting Golok, Thailand to enjoy the nightlife.
Many travel illegally to avoid leaving a trace of their outings, with some of them as young as their early teens.
Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat revealed that most of these travellers head to Thailand on Thursday evenings and return to Kelantan on Saturdays after a period of partying.
"They park their vehicles in Rantau Panjang and take an illegal route by crossing the Golok River, rather than using the official Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS). This was recently brought to my attention by my counterpart in Thailand," he said.
"They informed me that many young Malaysians are willing to wait in long lines just to access entertainment venues across the border, especially on weekends."
Mohd Yusoff said he had conveyed this matter to Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, and discussions are underway to address the issue.
"Even on weekdays, there are many people crossing the border, but the crowd swells on Sundays. It's alarming that they are willing to endure long waits just to enter these entertainment spots," he said.
He also said that local authorities faced challenges in restricting Kelantan residents from using illegal routes to Thailand, as the Thai authorities did not impose restrictions on illegal entrants.
"In Malaysia, the law states that foreigners who enter illegally will be arrested under the Immigration Act, but in Thailand, the laws differ, complicating our ability to address this issue. Many in Kelantan choose these illegal routes as a result," he added.
"We urge parents to keep a close eye on their children, especially those who frequently stay out and do not return home. We're unsure if parents are aware of their teens' activities."
Recently, six Malaysians, including a female artiste, were arrested in a hotel in Sungai Golok, Thailand, for possessing 6,000 Yaba pills.
They were apprehended at 6am Malaysian time, just after returning from a nightclub.