Malaysian Border Official Attacked By Thai Gang

[george]

Malaysian border official attacked by Thai gang

KUALA LUMPUR: -- A Malaysian border official was attacked andbeaten by a group of Thai nationals after preventing one of them from entering the country on suspicion of diesel smuggling, according to a report Sunday.

Aswadi Abdullah, 27, from Malaysia's domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, was admitted into intensive care Saturday after the beating by some 20 Thai men armed with metal rods and nail-studded bats, the Star newspaper reported.

Before the incident, Aswadi and three colleagues had stopped a Thai man in a pickup truck from entering Malaysia at a border checkpoint in northern Kedah state, suspecting him of being involved in diesel smuggling.

The disgruntled driver had left but returned shortly afterwards with reinforcements, who chased the border officials, the newspaper said.

"We had a tip-off that they were returning to attack us. So we quickly ran to my car, which was at the parking lot. But it was too late. The gang spotted us," Aswadi was quoted as saying.

"I tried to fight off my attackers with one of their bats," he added.

After the melee, the Thais fled from the checkpoint back to their country with customs officials in pursuit on foot.

Aswadi's three colleagues managed to escape the gang and alerted security guards at the checkpoint.

Malaysia border officials and police said they were investigating the incident.

Malaysian fuel subsidies mean prices are still low compared with the rest of the region, tempting smugglers to sell diesel in neighbouring Thailand, where it is more expensive.

-- The Nation/AFP 2006-12-03

[Briggsy]

Very strange story. Aren't border post officials armed? Were there no soldiers at the border?

This story smacks very much of organised crime and what happens when it is prevented.

[Thaising]

UPDATE: Malaysia angry over border fight

Foreigners must obey the laws while they are in this country and legal action will be taken against those who break them, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Sunday, according to a report by the official Malaysian news agency Bernama from Alor Gajah.

Commenting on an incident where an enforcement officer was beaten up by a Thai diesel smuggler at Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs complex on the Thailand-Malaysia border on Saturday, he said: "If they do such a thing, we will take action and they will have to pay the price."

In the incident, a Kedah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry enforcement assistant, Aswadi Abdullah, 27, was beaten up, allegedly by a Thai diesel smuggler and about 20 of his friends. The customs officer and his colleagues had stopped the man at the Customs complex for not having valid documents for his pick-up truck.

Likewise, Najib said to Bernama, Malaysians travelling to neighbouring countries such as Thailand also had to obey the local laws.

Bangkok Post

Edited December 4, 2006 by Thaising

[Briggsy]

Quite a restrained and diplomatic response.