MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s Kelantan state, which borders Thailand, is planning to build a 100km wall to curb crime. The Kelantan government said it will propose the idea to the federal government.
The state’s deputy chief minister Mohamed Fadzil Hassan said the wall was needed to stop smuggling activities and control floods.
Speaking at the Kelantan International Congress on Rafflesia 2024 he said, ”If the security forces want to guard the entire border, it is difficult to do so because the Malaysia-Thailand border is very vast. We will bring this proposal to build the wall to the federal government.
”The authorities always maintain strict control at the border near this state, but there are many illegal bases that make it difficult to monitor unlawful activities.
Mohamed Fadzil said that most of the land at the border belongs to individuals, so it is hard to stop smuggling activities as the routes are unregulated and difficult to monitor.
Malaysias Kelantan wants 100km wall along Thai border to combat smuggling, illegal entry – https://t.co/3wstnIgx6M
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According to The Bangkok Post, Kelantan police chief Mohd Yusoff Maman said Malaysians looking for a fun time out often leave their vehicles in Rantau Panjang and cross the Golok River (Sungai Golok) illegally to enjoy the nightlife.
6 Malaysians arrested in Thailand, including singer Eda Ezrin
On Friday, six young Malaysians were arrested at a hotel in Sungai Golok and 6,060 methamphetamine tablets were seized, according to a police source. All six said they had no intention to sell the drugs. Between 25 and 34 years old, they all tested positive for drugs.
“Most of these youngsters go to Thailand on Thursday evening and return to Kelantan by Saturday,” he said.
The arrests attracted attention because among the six was the singer Eda Ezrin, whose real name is Wan Norshaheeda Azlin Binti Wan Ismail. The 29-year-old is a popular dikir barat singer.
Dikir barat is a traditional Malay art form of group singing and movement that is accompanied by percussion instruments.
According to the same police source, all six have been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines. Two of them have also been charged with illegal entry. All six Malaysians were taken on Monday to the Narathiwat Provincial Court, where police obtained permission to detain them longer.