Analysis: Reinforcing The Kelantan-Thai Border
The Malaysia–Thailand border in Kelantan is more than a geographical divide; it is a frontline that continuously tests the nation’s security control, officer integrity and the readiness of enforcement agencies in combating smuggling and cross-border crime across land and sea.
Despite stronger enforcement and the shutdown of all illegal jetties along the Golok River, Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat admits the biggest challenges do not only come from outside — but also from within. These include attempts by criminal and extremist networks to establish operational bases, as well as isolated cases of misconduct, power abuse and corruption among enforcement personnel.
He said police possess early intelligence indicating collusion between certain individuals and cross-border syndicates.
“I am issuing a clear warning — we will take uncompromising action, whether they are General Operations Force (PGA) members or civilians. They are traitors to the country,” he said in an interview with Bernama at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters recently.
He cited a recent incident at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), where an enforcement officer was arrested for facilitating the illegal entry of foreigners, as proof that even high-tech security environments are not immune to infiltration — making the wide and porous Kelantan border especially vulnerable without strong physical safeguards.
GEOGRAPHY THAT TESTS CONTROL CAPABILITY
Kelantan has three official entry points under the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex — in Rantau Panjang, Bukit Bunga and Pengkalan Kubor.
The state forms part of the 551-km land border, with another 95 km of river border along the Golok River. Seventeen PGA posts monitor the most active stretch — 45 km — with each responsible for about two kilometres.
“It is not easy to secure the entire river. There are many ‘rat lanes’, especially in the forested belts of Tanah Merah and Jeli. Smugglers on both sides simply wait for an opening and cross using small boats,” he said.
The river’s seasonal behaviour is a major factor. During the dry season it becomes shallow enough for smugglers to walk across within seconds; during floods, the borderline disappears entirely, offering seamless passage by boat.
Limited fencing, lighting, and surveillance systems — coupled with local cross-border movements — further complicate enforcement.
To reinforce control, demolition of 233 illegal jetties from Pengkalan Kubor to Jeli is underway, expected to take two months, he added.
BORDER CROSSING BAN AND ITS IMPACT
Since the border-crossing ban via illegal routes took effect on Dec 1 last year, security along the Kelantan–Thailand border has been significantly strengthened, aided by daily Special Branch monitoring and cooperation with Thai authorities.
Mohd Yusoff said iIllegal entry by Malaysians into Thailand has dropped by nearly 90 per cent, while activity at entertainment centres in Sungai Golok has plunged 85 per cent. These areas, including Tak Bai in Narathiwat province, have long attracted young people from Kelantan with their affordable entertainment, massage services, food and goods.
The absence of similar entertainment options in Kelantan has made Thai border towns popular weekend destinations for youths seeking leisure activities.
Smuggling along the border, however, continues in both directions. Malaysians bring in cheaper goods, food and beauty products from Thailand, while Thai nationals smuggle controlled items such as diesel, cooking oil, sugar and rice from Malaysia to sell at higher prices.
Differences in prices, taxes and market demand on both sides remain the main reasons these activities persist, despite tighter security and frequent patrols. Under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963, Malaysians entering Thailand through illegal routes can be detained and investigated.
Between January and September, authorities recorded 1,335 contraband seizures worth more than RM275 million and arrested 104 individuals for illegal crossings.
However, enforcement alone is insufficient without strong physical infrastructure, Mohd Yusoff noted.
SECURITY WALL: FROM PROPOSAL TO STRATEGIC NEED
Mohd Yusoff said the narrow, shallow terrain and numerous illegal routes necessitate a physical barrier, beyond drones, CCTV and automated surveillance systems.
“That is why I propose speeding up the construction of a security wall or fence along the river buffer zone — not only for security but to defend national sovereignty,” he said.
He said the wall will also function as a flood mitigation structure during monsoon months.
Of the 163-km Kelantan-Thailand border, about 91 km covers river areas requiring tailored approaches — from patrol boats and drones to fencing and access roads.
For example, in swampy or water-covered areas, authorities must use patrol boats, surveillance drones, long-range observation cameras and joint patrols with the General Operations Force to monitor movements, while in land or hilly areas, border fencing, control routes and scheduled patrols are more suitable to curb smuggling and cross-border crime.
At the same time, flood mitigation works along the Golok River also support border control by creating concrete embankments, access routes and clearer monitoring zones between Malaysia and Thailand.
Mohd Yusoff said the government has approved RM1.5 billion for the security wall to be built along the Malaysia-Thai border from Tumpat to Tanah Merah in Kelantan. The project will also serve as flood mitigation during monsoon seasons.
INTEGRITY: THE FINAL LINE OF DEFENCE
Besides asset strength and operational capability, the integrity of enforcement officers remains the cornerstone of effective border control.
Mohd Yusoff stressed that only a small number are involved in misconduct, abuse of power, corruption or negligence, but monitoring efforts are being enhanced — including the proposal to use body-worn cameras to improve transparency during field operations.
“In any force, not everyone is the same. A small group may be involved in unhealthy activities, but their number is small, and action will be taken against those involved,” he said.
Earlier in 2025, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) uncovered various serious misconduct cases, not only among lower-ranking personnel but also involving senior officers and department heads within key enforcement agencies in the country.
Among the cases investigated were falsification of screening results, approval of documents without proper procedure, illegal release of prohibited goods, and negligence in managing visas and sensitive records.
MARITIME SECURITY: THE SEA FRONTIER
Beyond land borders, threats also emerge off Kelantan’s coastline facing the South China Sea and the Thai border.
Maritime Director Capt. Erwan Shah Soahdi identified 10 smuggling hotspots from Pantai Geting to Tok Bali, known for illegal migrants and contraband.
On Oct 13, the Kelantan Maritime agency, in collaboration with the National Security Council (MKN), conducted a border surveillance operation in the waters off Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat.
The three-hour operation, joined by 27 maritime officers and personnel as well as MKN representatives, was carried out to monitor smuggling activities, incursions and border violations across three key maritime surveillance zones — the South China Sea, the Golok River and the Geting River.
“The five-kilometre coastal stretch near the Malaysia-Thailand border is a focus point for smugglers because it is shielded by dense forest and thick vegetation, making aerial and ground detection difficult,” he said.
The joint operation also focused on monitoring the movement of local and foreign fishing vessels, in addition to assessing the effectiveness of existing patrols in high-risk areas near the Thai border.
EVOLVING SMUGGLING TACTICS
Erwan Shah said smugglers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, aided by tonto — lookouts stationed near Pulau Tengkorak to alert them of enforcement presence.
“They observe from a distance and alert smugglers before patrols arrive. This is one of the biggest challenges because their network is highly organised,” he said.
Syndicates are also reported to use small high-speed boats capable of landing at Geting, Tumpat and Tok Bali, Pasir Puteh within minutes to drop off smuggled goods before returning to Thai waters moments later — making manual detection or pursuit extremely difficult.
Authorities have also detected smuggling syndicates along the Golok River changing their modus operandi by using ropes to pull boats across at night to smuggle controlled items into the neighbouring country.
This tactic is intended to avoid the sound of boat engines being detected, especially during the dry season when the Golok River becomes shallow — at times only about ten metres wide.
TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE: CLOSING THE GAPS
To enhance border surveillance, Erwan Shah said the Kelantan Maritime Agency plans to install the Remote Sensored Site (RSS) SWASLA radar system along the East Coast, covering Terengganu and Pahang, noting that the radar will enable early detection of smuggler boats before they reach Malaysian waters.
He said a new four-hectare maritime post on Pulau Tengkorak, set for development next year, will serve as a forward operations centre to improve response times.This initiative complements the upcoming Tok Bali Maritime Complex announced under Budget 2026, reinforcing efforts to strengthen maritime security on the East Coast.
Despite upgrades to sea and air assets, the vast and challenging maritime zone from the Golok River to Tok Bali — part of the South China Sea — remains one of the most demanding enforcement areas in Peninsular Malaysia.
Smuggling, illegal migration and incursions by foreign fishing vessels continue to test surveillance capabilities, underscoring the need for advanced radar systems and stronger coastal infrastructure.
Together, the land border along the Golok River and the maritime border in the South China Sea form Malaysia’s twin defensive lines.
Yet, as both the Kelantan Police Chief and Maritime Director emphasised, the true safeguard lies not only in technology, but in the integrity, discipline and efficiency of those enforcing the law.
The security wall, new maritime post and integrated radar systems stand as testaments to Malaysia’s determination to protect its sovereignty — by land and sea, day and night.
