USE OF ARMOURED CARS TO ENHANCE SECURITY ALONG BORDER

RANTAU PANJANG (Malaysia), Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The General Operations Force
(GOF) based here is to step up patrols in armoured cars in the vicinity of the
northeast state of Kelantan's Jeram Perdah illegal base which was closed to the
public after some GOF personnel were attacked by a group of villagers in an area
bordering Thailand's Sungai Golok last Friday.

Rantau Panjang GOF commander Supt Kamaruddin Yusoff said this measure was
aimed at curbing smuggling in the area, particularly in view of the Eid Al-fitri
festive season, a Muslim celebration to mark the end of fasting month Ramadan.

"Enhanced security is necessary, especially with the Mundok market on the
Thai side of the border selling various essential goods for Aidilfitri next
month," he told Bernama Wednesday.

Kamaruddin said GOF personnel were on alert all the time to curb smuggling
of goods and people through the illegal base.

In the incident last Friday, a group of 30 villagers, among them suspected
smugglers, cordoned off the GOF officers after they seized 10 bags of rice
believed to have been smuggled in from Thailand's Mundok market.
-- BERNAMA