Saifuddin Nasution calls for respect for Thai laws as six Malaysians remain in custody for drug offenses

PASIR MAS, November 16. The public has been urged to respect Thailand’s laws and allow the authorities to continue their investigation into the detention of six Malaysians in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat on November 1.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the six were involved in drug-related offences, giving Thailand the power to investigate and impose penalties.

“All six Malaysians involved in this case are subject to the Thai judicial system.

“Based on an update from Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, the suspects have been charged in court and are currently in custody for three months,” he said at a press conference after the Santuni Madani program at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tanjong Bunga today.

Commenting on the possibility that the suspects would be allowed to return home after the investigation, Saifuddin Nasution said further checks would be carried out to determine if they had committed other crimes.

“We will investigate whether they entered Thailand through official checkpoints or illegal routes, and look into any other crimes,” he said.

On November 1, six Malaysians, including a local artist from Kelantan, were detained during a Thai police raid at a hotel in Sungai Golok. A raid at 6 a.m. led to the discovery of about 6,000 yaba pills in their hotel room.

Two of the suspects reportedly entered Thailand using the illegal Gergaji jetty near Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, while the remaining four used the official route through the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex.

Meanwhile, on the flood protection proposal along Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok, the minister said the National Security Council (NSC) will review the plan.

“The construction of the border fence is being discussed and will be finalized by the National Security Council.

“There have been suggestions from the state police and the state government and I believe the NSC will be watching it closely,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution added that the NSC will approach the ministry for input and further discussions when the time comes.

The Thai government recently welcomed Kelantan’s proposal to recommend to the federal government the construction of a safety and flood protection barrier along the Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang border.

Narathiwata Governor Trakul Thotham called the barrier an important measure to combat cross-border crime.

On November 5, the Kelantan government announced plans to propose the construction of a 100-kilometer barrier along the state’s border with Thailand.

The project is aimed at stopping smuggling and mitigating the risks of regular floods. — Bernama