Kelantan police have advised Malaysians, particularly those from the state, to postpone non-essential trips to southern Thailand following a series of shooting and bomb incidents reported over the past week.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said five shooting and bombing cases had been recorded in southern Thailand within the last seven days, prompting authorities to issue renewed travel advice to the public.
He said while the police could not prevent Malaysians from travelling across the border, they would continue providing updates and security advice based on intelligence received from the Special Branch.
“I have always advised the public to avoid travelling to southern Thailand because we receive continuous security updates. At the moment, five shooting and bombing incidents have occurred within a week.
“That is why I urge those without urgent business or essential matters to postpone their trips. If the purpose is simply to go there for food, it is better not to travel,” he said after receiving a courtesy visit from Media Prima Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Dr Syed Hussian Aljunid at his office on Wednesday.
Mohd Yusoff stressed that the final decision rests with individual travellers, but urged Malaysians to carefully consider the current security situation before making travel plans.
He noted that some people may continue visiting southern Thailand because they or their families have never experienced incidents such as the recent bombing involving two Malaysian victims in Tak Bai.
“If you ask me, reduce your visits to southern Thailand. Instead, support tourism within our own country,” he said.
Earlier, two Malaysians were reported injured in a bomb explosion in Tak Bai at about 11.40am on Monday while returning home after a holiday in Narathiwat.
The victims, identified as Abdullah Syarapi Abd Rahman, 45, and Muhammad Yusri Udin, 38, initially received treatment at a hospital in Narathiwat before being transferred to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II in Kota Bharu for further medical care.
