Malaysia must stay vigilant against rebel and terrorist threats

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia needs to be alert to the threat from rebel or terrorist groups that may infiltrate the country undetected to seek refuge.

Universiti Utara Malaysia security and geopolitical analyst Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Faisol Keling said failure to prevent criminals, terrorists, or rebels from entering the country could strain Malaysia-Thailand bilateral relations.

He said mutual security interests were of greater importance and efforts to combat terrorism and crime must remain a top priority for both nations.

"The bombing incident in Sungai Golok is relatively minor compared to other larger cases in southern Thailand, such as the Tak Bai massacre 20 years ago.

"This attack is merely a signal that terrorists are trying to send to the government and neighbouring countries regarding their existence and status," he told Sinar on Monday.

Previously, Thai police reported an explosion at a security checkpoint outside the Sungai Golok District Office at Jalan Sungai Golok-Sungai Padi.

Authorities confirmed that gunfire erupted from a group of assailants, resulting in the deaths of at least two Thai security personnel and injuries to eight others at about 7.10pm. However, no Malaysians were involved in the incident.

The attackers had reportedly fired several shots before throwing five hand grenades at the checkpoint in front of the Sungai Golok District Office.

Commenting on whether the Royal Malaysia Police has taken sufficient security measures, Faisol emphasised the need for authorities to expand intelligence methods and tighten security activity throughout the entire region, not just in border towns.

He added that the intelligence team involved must also conduct investigations and gather information all the way to the terrorists' operational centre, which may be located deep in the jungles of Thailand.

"Intelligence sources must be diverse and cannot rely solely on information from the Thai government or security agencies. It should also include insights from local residents, who are more familiar with these criminals, terrorists, or rebels," he said.

Meanwhile, defence analyst Zaki Salleh said bombings and random attacks have long been a recurring issue in southern Thailand.

He said business disputes and competition could be contributing factors to the unrest, while firearm ownership in the region was also more accessible.

"What usually happens stems from security concerns in Thailand’s Narathiwat region. However, in terms of impact on Malaysia, it is generally minimal, except for Kelantan due to its close proximity of just a few kilometres.

"The main concern now is the safety of Malaysians who need to travel there and the well-being of locals in Sungai Golok. Usually, when people hear of an incident, they postpone their trips across the border.

"They only proceed once the situation has calmed down. However, restricting cross-border movement is difficult since it is already part of their daily routine," Zaki added.