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KUALA LUMPUR: Armed smugglers shot dead one police officer and seriously wounded another on the Malaysian-Thai border in Padang Besar, Perlis, early yesterday.
Corporal Baharuddin Ramli, 54, who was shot in the rib cage, died minutes after a subsequent shooting in which he and his colleague Norihan Tari had become involved with a group of smugglers around 3 a.m. .
The sources said that both policemen, attached to the 3rd Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF), were on border patrol under Ops Benteng not far from the checkpoint when they came across two large groups of smugglers.
The smugglers then fired at Baharuddin and Norihan, who returned fire.
An injured Baharuddin managed to stumble to the checkpoint for help, but fell unconscious minutes later.
The paramedics who arrived at the scene declared him dead.
Norihan, who suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen, was rushed to Kangar Hospital where he is reportedly in serious condition.
At least three of the smugglers, who fled back to Thailand, are known to have been injured after being hit by shots from Baharuddin and Norihan.
The injured traffickers, who are between 19 and 48 years old, were detained by Thai police while seeking treatment at a hospital in Sadao.
Shortly after the shooting, the GOF’s elite VAT 69 command unit rushed to the scene to secure the area.
When the site was swept, a suspected smuggler was arrested.
Sources said the area, which is patrolled by GOF personnel, was a notorious road often used by human smugglers, arms dealers and other smugglers.
It was learned that the smugglers’ activities were stifled after security in the area intensified in recent months.
Baharuddin’s body was handed over last night to be buried in his hometown in Negri Sembilan. Baharuddin, who leaves behind his wife, Relow Alang Ko, and three children, is known to have been a former member of the Royal Malaysian Police football team.
Interior Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said he ordered the police to carry out a full investigation.
“The government takes this seriously and does not compromise with either side, especially smugglers who commit cross-border crimes,” he said.
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