BUKIT KAYU HITAM, 2 Dec 2020 – Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hj. Affendi bin Buang RMAF made a working visit to OP BENTENG North Zone, OP PAGAR II Sector, under the responsibility area of ​​the Malaysian Army today.

The area of ​​operational responsibility of the MAF at the Malaysia-Thailand border covers an area of ​​1,089 square km with a distance of 345 km from a total of 646.5 km of border length. Meanwhile, the rest is under the supervision of the General Operations Force (PGA). With its wide and long distances, this assignment requires coordination of intelligence and intelligence information shared through the coordination by the National Task Force (NTF). This integration can in turn curb cross-border criminal activities more effectively.

During the visit, he inspected several land control posts operated by MAF troops with sufficient strength at all times to keep the country’s borders from being breached.

The CDF stressed that the MAF will continue to be committed to its key role in ensuring the security of the country’s borders is enhanced at all times. This is the main responsibility and role of the MAF to ensure that the sovereignty of the country is always preserved.

He added, “This effort also requires strong collaboration between other enforcement and security agencies. As with the operation of the OPERATIONS BENTENG through the establishment of the National Task Force (NTF), it is an integrated consolidation of 19 security agencies involved following government directives to strengthen border control to curb the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic through the entry of Illegal Immigrants (PATI). “

Looking at the current situation, the rat lanes or channels are the focus for cross-border criminal activities that need to be addressed due to threats that not only undermine the country’s sovereignty but also the risk of criminal actions that can pose a security threat to MAF personnel themselves. With aggressive patrols and comprehensive border security controls, it poses a major obstacle to the criminal modus operandi, which is believed to be hiding behind certain syndicates leading to serious and armed criminal activities.

The MAF always strives to strengthen and streamline border security controls and is ready to mobilise appropriate existing assets to ensure that operations can be carried out effectively while providing better protection to the MAF personnel on duty.

All these and including the construction of new posts on the Malaysia-Thailand border as well as strategies to improve the aspect of border security control will be refined thoroughly which also involves discussions with other enforcement and security agencies as a measure to strengthen border control. This discussion will open the door to any improvement in the operations that are being implemented.

The MAF also has a platform to liaise with neighboring countries in discussing issues of mutual interest especially security issues along border areas. In this context, the Malaysia-Thailand High Level Committee Meeting (HLC MALTHAI) will be fully utilised for the benefit of resolving security issues in both countries.

This demarcation control operation is not a new thing implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Control of border operations, whether land, water or airspace monitoring is a key task that has been implemented. It not only involves the MAF, but also other security agencies. Thus, the government’s directive to strengthen this demarcation control is an additional effort to curb the entry of illegal immigrants to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

However, whatever the efforts made, the cooperation of the people in tackling these criminal activities is very much needed. The community should come forward to be the eyes and ears in channeling information to the security forces. Cooperation from these people also contributes to the concept of comprehensive defense through a ‘whole-of-government’ and ‘whole-of-society’ approach as outlined in the formation of the Defence White Paper.

Cross-border crimes as well as smuggling activities have not stopped even though the country and the world are now facing the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the various enforcement measures implemented by the government in order to curb the spread of the epidemic, it will definitely put pressure on those who carry out these criminal activities.

The CDF also visited the 3 Bn PGA Tactical Headquarters to see the environment of the operating area under the responsibility of the PGA. Earlier, he was briefed on the operation of the PGA North Brigade by the Commander of the PGA North Brigade, SAC Abdul Ghani bin Mohamad Ji regarding the operation carried out by the team at the Malaysia – Thailand border and was taken to the PGA task force area and the location of PGA personnel who were shot with air rifles on 24 Nov.

Also present during the visit were the Chief of Army, General Tan Sri Datuk Zamrose bin Mohd Zain, Commander of the National Task Force, Admiral Dato’ Aris Adi Tan bin Abdullah and PGA North Brigade Commander, SAC Abdul Ghani bin Mohamad Ji.

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𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗔 (𝗔𝗧𝗠) 𝗞𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗞𝗔𝗧 𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗔❞ – 𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔

BUKIT KAYU HITAM, 2 Dis 2020 – Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Jeneral Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hj. Affendi bin Buang TUDM telah membuat lawatan kerja ke OP BENTENG Zon Utara, Sektor OP PAGAR II di bawah kawasan tanggungjawab Tentera Darat Malaysia hari ini.

Kawasan tangungjawab operasi sektor ATM di persempadanan Malaysia-Thailand merangkumi keluasan 1,089 km persegi dengan jarak 345 km dari keseluruhan 646.5 km panjang sempadan. Manakala, selebihnya adalah di bawah pengawasan Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA). Dengan jarak yang luas dan panjang, penugasan ini memerlukan koordinasi aturgerak dan maklumat perisikan yang dikongsi secara bersama melalui koordinasi padu oleh National Task Force (NTF).

Kesepaduan ini juga seterusnya dapat mengekang aktiviti jenayah rentas sempadan dengan lebih berkesan.Dalam rangka lawatan ini beliau telah meninjau beberapa pos kawalan daratan yang dioperasikan oleh trup ATM dengan kekuatan yang mencukupi pada setiap masa yang berupaya menjaga sempadan negara daripada dibolosi.Panglima Angkatan Tentera menegaskan bahawa ATM akan terus komited dengan peranan utamanya bagi memastikan kawalan keselamatan persempadanan Negara dipertingkat sebilang masa. Ini merupakan tanggungjawab dan peranan utama ATM bagi memastikan kedaulatan negara sentiasa terpelihara.

Tegas beliau lagi, “Usaha ini juga memerlukan kolaborasi padu antara agensi-agensi penguatkuasaan dan keselamatan yang lain. Sepertimana pengoperasian OPERASI BENTENG melalui penubuhan National Task Force (NTF), ia merupakan kaedah penyatuan secara bersepadu antara 19 agensi keselamatan yang terlibat susulan arahan kerajaan agar kawalan persempadanan diperkasakan bagi mengekang penularan wabak COVID-19 melalui kemasukan Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI).”

Melihat kepada situasi semasa, laluan atau lorong tikus merupakan tumpuan bagi aktiviti jenayah rentas sempadan yang perlu diberi perhatian atas faktor ancaman yang bukan sahaja mengganggu-gugat kedaulatan negara malah risiko tindakan penjenayah yang boleh memberi ancaman keselamatan kepada anggota ATM itu sendiri. Dengan rondaan secara agresif dan kawalan keselamatan persempadanan secara menyeluruh, ia memberi halangan besar kepada modus operandi jenayah yang dipercayai berselindung di sebalik sindiket-sindiket tertentu yang menjurus kepada aktiviti jenayah berat dan bersenjata.

ATM sentiasa berusaha memperkasa dan memperkemaskan kawalan keselamatan persempadanan serta tidak menolak untuk mengaturgerak aset sedia ada yang bersesuaian bagi memastikan operasi dapat dilaksanakan secara berkesan sekaligus memberi perlindungan yang lebih baik kepada anggota-anggota ATM yang bertugas.

Kesemua ini dan termasuk pembinaan pos-pos baharu di persempadanan Malaysia-Thailand serta strategi-strategi peningkatan aspek kawalan keselamatan persempadanan akan diperhalusi keperluannya secara menyeluruh yang turut melibatkan perbincangan bersama agensi-agensi penguatkuasaan dan keselamatan lain sebagai langkah memperkasakan kawalan persempadanan. Perbincangan ini akan membuka ruang kepada sebarang penambahbaikan operasi-operasi yang sedang dilaksanakan.

ATM juga mempunyai platform untuk berhubung dengan negara jiran dalam membincangkan isu-isu yang mempunyai kepentingan bersama terutamanya isu keselamatan di sepanjang kawasan sempadan. Dalam konteks ini, Mesyuarat High Level Committee Malaysia-Thailand (HLC MALTHAI) akan digunakan sepenuhnya demi manfaat penyelesaian isu-isu keselamatan di kedua-dua buah Negara.

Operasi kawalan persempadanan ini bukan perkara baharu yang dilaksanakan kerana pandemik COVID-19. Kawalan operasi persempadanan ini baik daratan, perairan mahupun pemantauan ruang udara adalah tugas utama yang telah dilaksanakan sejak dahulu lagi. Ia bukan sahaja melibatkan ATM malah agensi keselamatan lain. Justeru, arahan kerajaan untuk merperkasakan kawalan persempadanan ini adalah tugas tambahan kepada usaha membanteras kemasukan PATI bagi mengekang penularan wabak COVID-19.

Namun, apa jua usaha yang dilaksanakan, kerjasama rakyat dalam menangani aktiviti jenayah ini amat diperlukan. Masyarakat harus tampil ke hadapan untuk menjadi mata dan telinga dalam menyalurkan maklumat kepada pasukan keselamatan. Kerjasama daripada rakyat ini juga sekaligus menyumbang kepada konsep pertahanan menyeluruh melalui pendekatan secara ‘whole-of-government’ dan ‘whole-of-society’ seperti yang digariskan dalam pembetukan Kertas Putih Pertahanan.

Jenayah rentas sempadan serta aktiviti penyeludupan ini tidak pernah berhenti walaupun negara dan dunia kini menghadapi pandemik COVID-19. Tambahan dengan pelbagai pemerkasaan penguatkuasaan yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan demi mengekang penularan wabak berkenaan, sudah pasti memberi tekanan kepada mereka yang menjalankan aktiviti jenayah ini.

Panglima Angkatan Tentera juga turut mengadakan lawatan ke Markas Taktikal Bn 3 PGA untuk melihat persekitaran kawasan operasi di bawah tanggungjawab PGA. Terdahulu beliau telah diberi taklimat operasi Briged Utara PGA oleh Komander Briged Utara PGA, SAC Abdul Ghani bin Mohamad Ji berkaitan operasi yg dilaksanakan oleh pasukan tersebut di persempadanan Malaysia – Thailand serta dibawa ke kawasan penugasan pasukan PGA dan lokasi anggota PGA yang di tembak menggunakan senapang angin pada kejadian 24 Nov lalu.

Turut hadir dalam lawatan ini adalah Panglima Tentera Darat, Jeneral Tan Sri Datuk Zamrose bin Mohd Zain, Komander National Task Force, Laksamana Madya Dato’ Aris Adi Tan bin Abdullah dan Komander Briged Utara PGA, SAC Abdul Ghani bin Mohamad Ji.