PADANG BESAR: The setting up of the border regiment has nothing to do with the insurgency problem in southern Thailand, said army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin.

Instead, the regiment would safeguard the country against trespassers and stemming the flow of illegal immigrants, smugglers and criminals into the country.

"It is not related (to the insurgency in southern Thailand). That is a separate issue. We are here to guard the border from trespassers. We are also facing threats such as transnational crime.

"The army's responsibility has been to protect the country from any trespassers. That has always been our duty."

Muhammad Ismail was responding to questions on whether the border brigade was set up in response to the violence which had erupted in southern Thailand in 2004.
He said this after opening the border brigade base at the army's Fourth Rangers camp in Oran, Mata Ayer here.

The regiment consists of five battalions stationed along the 506km Malaysia-Thai border.

It was launched on Feb 9 by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The border brigade base was initially set up at the army second division headquarters in Batu Feringghi, Penang, before moving to the Bukit Keteri camp here in March 2007.

Yesterday, it officially moved to the Oran camp.

Muhammad Ismail said the border brigade would complement other authorities stationed at border areas.

Among the authorities are Customs Department, Immigration Department, police and Anti-Smuggling Unit.

"We won't be working alone. We will gather information and coordinate with other departments. The government's aim is strengthen border areas."

Muhammad Ismail said there would be no overlapping of duties with the General Operations Force or other agencies because all operations would be coordinated.

The border brigade is, at present, only in charge of the border between Malaysia and Thailand.