RANTAU PANJANG: The police will arrest anyone crossing into Malaysia through illegal jetties along Sungai Golok starting Dec 1.
This includes students, said National Security Council (NSC) deputy director-general Hamzah Ishak.
"Everyone must use legal entry points," he told reporters after an NSC meeting at the Rantau Panjang Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex.
"Certain mechanisms will be put in place for students living in Thailand but studying in Rantau Panjang. That will be managed by the Education Ministry."
Hamzah said security along the Malaysia-Thailand border must be prioritised, adding that people could cross through any of the three legal entry points along the border.
"Whether the Immigration Department opens the entry points earlier is up to them. They also have to discuss it with their Thai counterparts. Details from today's meeting will be relayed to the Kelantan police chief."
Meanwhile, Kelantan Education Department director Datuk Mohd Zamri Abdul Aziz said they have discussed the issue of Thailand-based students using illegal jetties with the National Registration Department (NRD).
He said several ideas were proposed, including housing the students in hostels.
Zamri said the proposals will be presented to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
It was previously reported that nearly 500 Kelantan school students entered the country via illegal jetties.