KANGAR: The Non-Pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATTBM) today urged the government to expedite the construction of a border wall to combat smuggling activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border in Perlis and Kedah.
Its president, Datuk Ismail Abidin, said a wall is seen as the best solution to reduce the risk of Malaysian security personnel being exposed to the threat of being shot at by smugglers.
"A border wall will further facilitate the task of control to curb smuggling activities at the national border," he told Bernama here today.
He said that the situation along the Perlis-Thailand border is different compared to the Kelantan-Thailand border, which is separated by Sungai Golok.
"The Perlis-Thailand border, with thick forest, provides smugglers easy access to act violently against Malaysian security forces personnel, then hide and flee to the neighbouring country," he said.
On Tuesday morning, Sergeant Baharuddin Ramli, 54, of the 3rd Battalion (Senoi Praaq), Northern Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF), was killed after being shot by smugglers, while his colleague, Sergeant Norihan Tari, 39, was seriously injured in an incident near Padang Besar.
Yesterday, another GOF personnel was slightly injured after being shot while on duty at the Malaysia-Thailand border near Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah at about 6.15pm. - Bernama