BUKIT KAYU HITAM, Aug 10 — A soldier on patrol along the Malaysia-Thailand border here was shot and badly injured at about 4.30 am today, police said.

Kubang Pasu District Police chief Supt Ibrahim Mohd Yusoff said the soldier, Azamuddin Azizan, 26, was injured in several parts of the body, including the right shoulder, right elbow and both knees.

He said Azamuddin and another soldier went on patrol after receiving a report about a hole in the border fence.

"They were making an inspection on the fence when shots were fired from the Thailand side, probably from a shotgun.

"On seeing Azamuddin shot, the colleague brought him to a safe place to wait for help to arrive. The colleague was unhurt in the incident," he told reporters here.

Ibrahim said Azamuddin was rushed to the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, and was reported to be in stable condition.

He said the shots were believed to have come from some undergrowth near the border, about 30 metres from the control gate, but it was difficult to determine how many people were there as it was dark.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who visited the scene of the incident this evening, said the incident was regarded as a serious matter because the shots were believed to have come from across the border.

He said he was made to understand that Azamuddin was shot in the back and it was suspected to be the work of smugglers.

Khalid said the police would contact the authorities in Thailand for assistance in the investigation.

"I urge the people living along the border areas to inform the police if they stumble upon illegal activities there," he said.

Khalid spent about 20 minutes at the scene of the incident.

He was accompanied by the police chiefs of Kedah and Perlis, Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim and Datuk Zull Aznam Haron, respectively.

The soldier was rushed to the Kangar Hospital in a military vehicle.  — Bernama