PADANG BESAR: Worn out and damaged border fences are a major factor enabling illegal crossings and the smuggling activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border in Padang Besar.
Although some sections of the fences have been replaced, syndicates continue to damage them, requiring the General Operations Force (PGA) to conduct intensive monitoring in the area.
The Malaysia-Thailand land border stretches 106 kilometres (km), spanning from Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, to Batu Putih in Kuala Perlis, with 98.2km within Perlis alone.
A five-hour inspection along the Malaysia-Thailand border from Chuping to the border wall near Tangga 100, Padang Besar, found over 10 "hotspot" areas where the security fencing was severely corroded and aged.
Some fences have repeatedly been cut by syndicates to facilitate smuggling activities, despite heightened surveillance by PGA personnel.
Due to the damage, PGA personnel on duty in the area have had to improvise by sealing torn sections of the fence with various materials, including old PVC toilet doors, as a temporary measure to deter illegal entries from Thailand.
Compared to Bukit Kuan Cu's hilly and forested border, the security areas around Chuping and Padang Besar pose greater risk due to nearby Thai public roads often used as transit points for smugglers.
Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said many of these border fences are more than 30 years old, making them rusty and easy targets for smugglers seeking to breach the country's security.
"The barbed wire fencing covers about 26.69 km, while the remaining 60.22 km consists of unfenced or walled sections. It is estimated that most of the fencing is over 30 years old. Maintenance and upgrades, including fence replacement, fall under the National Security Council.
"In my view, if the boundary markers along the Malaysia-Thailand border are finalised, it would be better to upgrade the security fence to a wall at least 4.57 metres high, especially in high-risk areas where breaches are most likely.
"Once this is achieved, we could implement mechanical surveillance through artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including CCTV or drones, along the security route. Simultaneously, we could redirect PGA forces to other critical 'hotspot' areas," he said when met Perlis Police Contingent Headquarters today.
He added that syndicates also target other assets like CCTV cameras, often destroying them with slingshots from the Thai side.
"These smugglers engage in various acts of sabotage, not just against the border fence but also by damaging CCTVs placed along the border.
"Out of 41 CCTVs installed, nine have been damaged due to sabotage, including slingshots and cable theft, which render the cameras ineffective in recording illegal activities in the area," he said.
He also said PGA officers stationed at control posts along the border are subjected to provocative attacks by smugglers.
"Some posts have been attacked with firecrackers thrown from the neighbouring country, while others have been hit by slingshots in attempts to provoke our forces.
"Despite limited resources, PGA officers continue their duties professionally, ensuring the nation's sovereignty remains protected, even when facing smugglers armed with firearms," he added.