KUALA LUMPUR – The shootout at the Malaysia-Thailand border between two General Operations Force (GOF) personnel and a group of drug smugglers yesterday morning occurred spontaneously, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
He said both parties were surprised by each other's presence at the site of the incident, about 600m from the TS9 control post in Padang Besar, Perlis, about 2.30am yesterday.
"The two GOF personnel were out on an intelligence operation armed with pistols and riding a motorcycle. They arrived at a bush and there was a trail in a rubber plantation area leading to the border wall.
“They then walked along the trail before stumbling upon the group carrying sacks containing ketum leaves and cough medicine,” he told a special press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.
He said Corporal Baharuddin Ramli, 54, who was shot in the right rib, managed to ask Corporal Norihan a/l Tari, 39, to get help from the TS9 control post. Norihan, who was shot three times, managed to return to the post on the motorcycle.
Abdul Hamid said the rescue team, which arrived at the location 30 minutes later, found Baharuddin dead at the scene, with the pistol at his shoulder and out of bullets.
“Norihan, who was shot twice in the stomach, hitting his intestines, is in stable condition at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, Perlis,” he said.
Abdul Hamid said the VAT69 commandos, who were dispatched to the area with the GOF rescue team, then managed to arrest two Thai suspects, with one of them found near the site of the shootout.
He said Baharuddin’s remains at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star, Kedah will be taken to the GOF 3rd Battalion Camp in Bidor, Perak and laid to rest with full police honours in Kg Sampo, Bahau, Negri Sembilan.
Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid said the drug trafficking syndicate is believed to be operating via barter trade, smuggling in drugs such as heroin and syabu from Thailand and taking ketum leaves from Malaysia back home.
“Police are tracking down three Malaysians believed to be involved in the syndicate and we have also identified seven trafficking syndicates active in the area,” he said.
He said police had also recorded two other shooting incidents near the control post on November 12 and 15, which were believed to be aimed at intimidating enforcement officers in the area.
He said appropriate welfare assistance will also be provided to the two members of the Senoi Praaq team, adding the duo had received several certificates of appreciation and outstanding service awards previously.
He also said that the Senoi Praaq had a reputation feared among smugglers in the Malaysia-Thailand border because of their high level of integrity and trustworthiness in carrying out their duty. – Bernama, November 25, 2020
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