Army Tightens Security At Border Following Grenade Attack
SUNGAI PETANI, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The Army is tightening security at the Malaysia-Thailand border following a grenade attack which injured four soldiers on patrol at the Ban Din Samoe military post near here at dawn Wednesday.
Army Deputy Chief Lt Jen Datuk Mohamad Ismail Jamaludin said that although there was no cause for alarm, the army was placing itself at the highest level of preparedness.
He said that it had yet to be ascertained how the incident happened.
"What we know is that at 5.03 am two grenades exploded near the patrol. Details are sketchy as to what exactly happened," he told reporters on arrival at the Sixth Brigade's air strip here Wednesday afternoon.
In the incident, four soldiers from the Army's Second Division based at the Sungai Ara Camp in Penang suffered minor injuries when they were hit by shrapnel from two grenades believed to have been hurled at the border post.
They are Sarjan Mat Nazir Ishak, 34, Lans Koperal Azmi Rashid, 31, both married and two privates, Yuzaini Yusof, 26, and Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab, 23, both of whom are single.
The soldiers were carrying out routine patrols at the border post when the incident occurred, Mohamad Ismail said, adding that the operation was not done jointly with the Thai army but both parties coordinated their movements by informing each other of their respective positions.
"We have not determined yet the type of grenades used but they were certainly not ours. We will know the type of grenades that were used once we identify their splinter code," he said.
Mohamad Ismail said that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident although it would be quite difficult to identify the attackers.
He said that the Thai army was giving its cooperation in the investigation and should the situation worsen, the Malaysian and Thai Armed Forces would hold talks.
"Let us not make any speculation on the incident," he said while assuring that the situation was under control.
He denied Thai media reports which stated that the Thai army helped send the injured soldiers to the Thaanto Hospital in Yala.
He said that Thai army medical personnel attended to the soldiers before they were airlifted by a Malaysian Army Nuri helicopter to the Brigade's hospital in Sungai Petani.
Also present were Army Field Commander Lt Jen Datuk Soheimi Abbas and the Second Division's Commander, Mej Jen Datuk Raja Apandi Raja Mohd Noor.
SUNGAI PETANI: Four soldiers on routine patrol at the Malaysian-Thai border were injured in two explosions at Pos Ban Din Samoe in Sik, about 60km from here.
Sjn Mat Nazir Ishak, 34, L/Kpl Azmi Rashid, 31, Prebet Yuzaizi Yusof, 26, and Prebet Abd Razak Wahab, 23, were at the outpost when the explosions occurred at about 5am yesterday.
Their conditions are reported to be stable.
Deputy army chief Lt-Jen Datuk Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin said the soldiers suffered minor injuries, which might have been caused by splinters or shrapnel.
He ruled out the possibility of an attack by unknown elements.
He said the cause of the explosions could not be ascertained yet.
“The soldiers were at their respective posts during the explosions.
“They were given first aid treatment at the site and were later flown to the army hospital at Kem Lapangan Terbang here (Sungai Petani).
“All I can say is that there were two explosions caused by hand grenades,” he told a press conference at Kem Lapangan Terbang yesterday.
Lt-Jen Muhammad Ismail said two army commanders were entrusted to liaise with the Thai military authorities in the investigations.
He said security at all military border outposts were tightened after the incident.
Wife of Sjn Mat Nazir, Norhashimah Hashim, 29, from Taman Mahsuri, Padang Serai said this was the first time her husband was injured since he joined the armed forces as a 19-year-old.
“I’m relieved that he only has minor injuries on his right shoulder,” she said when met outside the army hospital yesterday