KOTA BARU – The General Operations Force (GOF) will be stepping up patrols and control at the Malaysia-Thailand border, particularly along the “rat trails” to curb the entry of illegal immigrants into the country in tackling the spread of Covid-19.
7th Battalion commanding officer Azhari Nusi said the effort was in line with the emergency proclamation from January 12 until August 2021 amid the surge in Covid-19 cases.
“The entry of illegals will be tackled more seriously in efforts to control the pandemic.
“We will focus on the ‘rat trails’, which have been identified as routes used by illegals to enter this country,” he said today.
Azhari said security control operations at the border area would be conducted with the cooperation of various agencies including the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Customs Department, marine police, Immigration Department, and Border Security Agency.
He said that 11 illegals comprising five Myanmar nationals, two Bangladeshis, two Thais, and two Rohingya had been detained since the 7th Battalion took over border control from the 8th Battalion on December 16, last year.
“We also seized two vehicles believed to be used to bring illegals into this country,” he added. – Bernama, January 14, 2021
