TUMPAT: No arrests have been made since the law took effect today to detain any individuals using illegal jetties in Sungai Golok to cross the Malaysia-Thailand border.
Kelantan Police chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, said this is due to the current flood disaster, which has caused the illegal jetties along Sungai Golok to be submerged.
"At the moment, the illegal jetties are not visible due to the floods. From our monitoring, only small boats have been moving in and out of Sungai Golok, reportedly to deliver flood aid.
"However, border surveillance continues as the flood season is considered an easy access point for smugglers to move in and out without considering the risks," he said.
He was speaking to reporters at Surau Ar Rasyidin at the Tumpat district police headquarters (IPD), which has been turned into a PPS (temporary relief centre) housing 195 flood victims from 83 families.
Earlier, the media reported that individuals using illegal jetties to cross the national border would be detained under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 (Act 155).
Meanwhile, Mohd Yusoff said more than 500 Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel and their families throughout Kelantan have been affected by the floods.
Despite being affected by the floods, he said, the mission to assist, including the evacuation of flood victims, continues to be carried out by the on-duty officers and personnel.
"Even though they are affected by the floods, the personnel remain on duty and are deployed for operations, while their families are moved to PPS.
"Apart from being involved in evacuating flood victims, personnel from all the affected IPDs are also assigned to carry out crime prevention patrols.
"So far, 10 police stations in Kelantan have been affected by the floods, six in Pasir Mas, and two each in Tumpat and Kota Baru," he said.