January 10, 2007 23:55 PM
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.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/