KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — National security must never be comprised but the onus of protecting our borders does not lie with security personnel alone, said General Tan Sri Zulkefli Mohd Zin.

The Armed Forces chief said those living near the borders must play their part in ensuring our borders were not easily penetrated by foreign elements.

The nation’s porous borders, especially the Malaysia-Thailand border, had come under scrutiny over the past year. The latest discovery of 10 rat holes near the Padang Besar KTM station in Perlis, believed to be used for human trafficking and smuggling of goods, further throws national security into the spotlight.

A Malay newspaper, had in its report yesterday, revealed the smuggling activities took place daily and were often led by the locals.

“Of course it is worrying but we are keeping close tabs and there is no cause for alarm. It’s a cat and mouse game and we need more people, including the locals, to help us in our quest to protect our soil,” said Zulkefli.

“Security cannot and must not be comprised. I believe the government agencies responsible for our borders are doing their best as well. But what is important is that all parties remain sincere in doing their jobs there (at the border).”

He added the government had taken steps to strengthen policing at the border but stressed locals should not indulge in activities that could harm the country.

“Everyone has to play their part,” he added.

Malaysia’s borders had been often infiltrated especially in Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan where human traffickers smuggle in undocumented migrants mainly from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Goods, including fuel, foodstuff and firearms, had also been brought in illegally through the Malaysia-Thailand border. 

This had caused an influx of immigrants in the country while the smuggling of goods caused the nation to lose millions of ringgit in revenue.

Malay Mail, had in an exercise in March, came across 15 rat holes spanning 500 metres of security fencing along the Malaysia-Thailand border near Bukit Kayu Hitam.

Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Zaini Japar accompanied the Malay Mail team following the disclosure by National Security Council chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim that “illegals are coming in (the country) daily, sometimes hourly. The rat holes in the fencing have grown bigger ... anyone can sneak in”.

It was learnt then there were more than 500 such gaping holes in the 30km barbed wire border fencing.

Shahidan had earlier told Malay Mail the problem along the Padang Besar-Bukit Kayu Hitam border had been around during his tenure as Perlis mentri besar from 1995 to 2008.