KUBANG PASU: Kedah police have set up a special team to monitor cross-border security threats following the reopening of Malaysia-Thai border in Bukit Kayu Hitam tomorrow.
Kedah police chief, Commissioner Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad, said the special team had been tasked to carry out Op Khas Sempadan on a permanent basis.
He said the team comprised those from the Criminal Investigation Department, Narcotics Investigation Department, police patrol car units, Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, roadblocks units, as well as the police K9 unit.
"This special team will also combine forces with the Bukit Kayu Hitam Police Station and the Changlun Police Station to assist the General Operations Force (PGA) which is entrusted with monitoring the country's borders.
"Apart from regular patrols on foot, motorcycles, and four-wheel-drive vehicles, this special border control team will patrol special areas and conduct inspections at roadblocks," he told reporters after inspecting preparations on the border reopening at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam here today.
Wan Hassan said up to 100 policemen and officers were put on standby to back up the special border control team.
"We will observe and monitor the situation later. If it is necessary, we are ready to deploy more policemen to the border checkpoint.
"Overall, after combining the strength of the existing PGA members, there are about 300 officers and policemen directly involved in border control security in Kedah
"The PGA is more focused on areas near the national border line. The special team will focus on areas that are 'deep' inside the border of the country," he said.
It was reported last week that Malaysia and Thailand governments had agreed to open two international land borders in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah and Wang Kelian in Perlis beginning April 1.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported as saying that for the moment, Thai authorities only allowed the entrance of inbound tourists from Malaysia.
He had said discussions were still underway between Malaysia and Thailand over daily commuters and frequent travellers.