TUMPAT: The General Operations Force (GOF) will continue carrying out surveillance along the Kelantan/Thai border although a crackdown on illegal crossings has been implemented.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said GOF personnel have been told to conduct border operations as usual.
"The GOF personnel will. conduct their mobile patrol along the border area as usual although the ban on illegal crossings has been enforced beginning Dec 1," he added.
Meanwhile, checks at several popular illegal jetties yesterday showed that the cross-border activities along Sungai Golok here had ceased following the police crackdown.
No boats were spotted crossing the river from Pengkalan Kubor here to the riverbank on the Thailand side near Takbai town.
Previously, there were many illegal jetties here that were busy with boats ferrying people or goods across, but the area has become quiet since the ban began.
A boat operator who only wanted to be known as Hussin said he and his friends were now doing odd-jobs in the village.
'After the ban began, we are facing difficulties in getting some income but we have no choice.
"Otherwise, we might be caught for using the illegal route to enter the country," said the 37-year-old who was cleaning his boat parked at a jetty here.
Checks also showed that Malaysian authorities have placed a signboard warning on illegal crossings near the jetty.
It was reported that the Kelantan police would intensify their crackdown on anyone caught crossing the Kelantan-Thailand border illegally starting Dec 1.
On Monday, deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said two Thai nationals and two Malaysians were the first individuals arrested in a police crackdown on illegal border crossings along the border.
He said the four were apprehended by police in two separate locations while attempting to cross Sungai Golok via illegal jetties in Rantau Panjang on Dec 7.
Ayob said the Thai nationals arrested during the operation included a man and a woman, aged 40 and 43, respectively.
He added that the two Malaysians arrested were men, aged 33 and 50.
Ayob said more arrests would be made as the police intensify their efforts to dismantle illegal jetties operating along Kelantan's border.