Kota bharu: Malaysians are advised to postpone any plans to visit Thailand in the near future unless absolutely necessary, following the bomb attack in Tak Bai, Narathiwat, yesterday. Chairman of the state committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety for those who still need to journey to the neighboring country.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Kamaruddin stated, “Bombing incidents in Thailand are not new. So while the situation remain volatile, it’s best for people of this state to delay travel plans there, especially with the upcoming holiday season.” He underscored the preventive measure as crucial to avoid incidents that could threaten personal safety and urged people to heed such events as warnings.
The media reported that three members of the Volunteer Defence Force were injured after a bomb-rigged car exploded near a checkpoint in Kampung Khok Mafueang, Salamai subdistrict in Tak Bai. The incident has been blamed on insurgents from the Thai south. A spokesman for the Narathiwat provincial police noted that the bomb-laden vehicle was parked in front of a furniture shop about 10 meters from the Salamai checkpoint with the engine still running before it was detonated via remote control.
Meanwhile, addressing the arrest of 36 undocumented immigrants from Myanmar who boarded a chartered tour bus in Pasir Mas yesterday, Kamaruddin stressed the importance of tour bus operators adhering to regulations. He remarked, “The state government has long allowed sightseeing and chartered buses to enter the state. However, this facility must be used according to procedures. The tour bus is meant to carry tourists, not foreign workers.”
Kamaruddin expressed hope that this incident would not affect the leniency granted to operators, potentially leading to a revocation of the leeway provided. The incident involved 36 illegal immigrants from Myanmar being detained by a team from Battalion 8 of the General Operations Force (GOF) in Kampung Serongga, Pasir Mas.