RANTAU PANJANG: The elite Senoi Praaq team have begun patrolling the Kelantan/Thai border along the Golok river using boats since Saturday.
Kelantan police chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the boats were deployed to the areas that have been identified as often used by locals to cross to Thailand and vice-versa.
He said the patrol boat would conduct its round-the-clock surveillance along the Golok river.
He added the idea to use boats in border patrol was from the commander of the General Operations Force Southeast Brigade, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid.
"To help police in strengthening the border's security, the GOF has decided to use boats in the patrolling, especially at the active illegal jetties that are normally used by locals.
"The jetties include MCA, Pound, Pohon Jambu and Tok Awang Belulang, all in Rantau Panjang.
"We hope that the presence of this patrol boat will create some fear among the public who planning to use illegal routes to cross to Thailand and vice-versa," he added.
He said each boat would be handled by three personnel and they would start their surveillance from Pos Ibrahim Pencen to Pos Terusan.
Apart from using the boats, he said GOF personnel would also carry out surveillance using motorcycles and other modes of transportation.
"Some of these Senoi Praaq members will also conduct their normal surveillance by walking along the riverbank," he added.
It was reported yesterday that Malaysia has deployed some 100 members of the elite Senoi Praaq from the General Operations Force (GOF) to strengthen security along the border with southern Thailand.