PADANG BESAR – The two groups of smugglers who shot dead a General Operations Force (GOF) corporal and injured another here were attempting to bring out a cache of ketum leaves and cough mixtures at Post Nine near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
The two GOF corporals, who were on an intelligence gathering mission along the border wall, had trailed one group of smugglers through the dense undergrowth when they were intercepted by another, resulting in the fatal shootout.
In the 3.10am incident, Corporal Baharuddin Ramli, 54, died at the scene after being shot twice in the chest and abdomen, while Corporal Norihan Tari, 39, was shot in the right abdomen.
Before they went down, Baharuddin and Norihan shot back with their Walther P99 pistols and injured three of the smugglers. It is believed that they discharged 10 rounds at the smugglers.
Perlis police chief Datuk Surina Saad said before the incident, the two GOF members were patrolling an area 600m from the border wall before they discovered the smugglers.
She added that the two GOF personnel were about to carry out a raid along the rat trails where smugglers had gathered just before the corporals were shot at
“During the raid, Baharuddin acted bravely when he managed to injure the smugglers, but unfortunately he was shot and died at the scene.
“Norihan, who was injured, managed to crawl out to seek help from other GOF members at Post Nine. The team then hunted down the smugglers, who had then begun to retreat,” she said in a press conference here today.
Surina added that GOF members with an elite Commando 69 (VAT69) team then found the two smugglers hiding in a nearby forest, later seizing 500kg of ketum leaves and several cough mixtures.
“The Thai police who were informed of the incident helped arrest another three smugglers who sought treatment at a Hatyai hospital in Thailand,” she said.
Currently, both Malaysian and Thai security forces are hunting down seven more smugglers, who are believed to be hiding along the border.
Norihan’s condition is critical. He has been transferred from Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar to Penang Hospital for further treatment.
Baharuddin’s body was taken to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Star, Kedah for autopsy.
His body is expected to be brought to Bahau, Negri Sembilan for burial.
Earlier, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Hamid Bador assured that security near the Malaysia-Thailand border is under control.
He said that members of VAT69 happened to be on duty during the incident, and they were able to control the situation.
“Everything is fine. Coincidentally, there were commandos at the scene," he said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2020
