KUALA LUMPUR – In honour of the service and sacrifice of Corporal Baharuddin Ramli, who was killed in a shoot-out with smugglers at the Malaysian-Thai border this week, Putrajaya will ask that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong accord him the Star of the Commander of Valour medal.
This is in addition to the 54-year-old General Operations Force (GOF) officer’s posthumous promotion to sergeant, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Baharuddin’s colleague, Corporal Norihan Tari, 39, will also be given similar honours.
Norihan was involved in the same incident, and sustained serious injuries.
Hamzah was replying to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai), who wanted to know the details of the incident that took place early Tuesday.
Baharuddin and Norihan were engaged in intelligence gathering at the border area when they chanced on some 13 smugglers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
To date, said Hamzah, 19 people – 15 locals and four Thais – have been arrested to facilitate investigations.
Based on initial investigations, he said, police suspect that the groups that attacked the GOF duo were attempting to smuggle drugs across the border.
“They wanted to trade ketum leaves from Malaysia with drugs from Thailand. The government will not compromise with any quarters, and will take stern action.”
Bernama reported that the Agong has consented to the medals being accorded. – The Vibes, November 26, 2020
