PASIR MAS: The husband of Anisah Ali, the Customs Department officer who was killed by 'tonto' (thugs) after a high speed car chase here last week, recalled today that he almost suffered a similar fate during an operation to bust a firecracker-smuggling syndicate several years ago.
Mohd Baharudin Hamid, also a Customs officer, said he and his colleagues were lucky to have escaped unhurt in the 2013 incident in Tanah Merah.
"We were helping another team from Bukit Bunga to nab firecracker smugglers and were engaged in a car chase with a lorry suspected to be transporting smuggled fireworks when suddenly, two cars; a Proton Wira and a Toyota Vios appeared and tried to ram both sides of our car.
"We were shocked because these tontos were crashing their vehicles into our's, trying to force us off a cliff.
"Luckily, we had earlier called for back-up and the patrol unit arrived just in time. Otherwise, we might have been killed," said the 58-year-old man when met at his home in Kampung Aur Duri near Salor here today.
The father of two said that was the third time he came face-to-face with tontos since joining the department more than 20 years ago.
"We were not injured but our car was slightly damaged from the ordeal," he said.
Baharudin said tontos were more aggressive these days compared to several years ago since they started driving large SUVs and 4WD.
"Prior to this, they only use small cars like Proton Wira and Toyota, and their behaviours were not as cruel as today," he said.
Baharudin added that his house was once splashed with acid and paint which he believed were the work of tonto trying to intimidate him and his family.
"I am not afraid of them but I do fear for the safety of my family. These tontos are willing to do anything including harming people especially those who are trying to put a stop to their illegal activities," he said.
Moving forward, Baharudin said he was thankful to the government, especially the Customs's director-general, for transferring him back to Kelantan from Penang effective Oct 16.
"At least, I can be close to my son and daughter at our home in Rantau Panjang. I am also grateful that the government is planning to promote my late wife." he said.
Last Friday, Anisah, 54, was killed in a car chase with suspected smugglers at Kampung Banggol Chicha in Pasir Mas. She was one of three officers in a Customs patrol vehicle in hot pursuit of two vans suspected of being laden with smuggled cigarettes.
In mid-chase, a third car – a four wheel-drive driven by a ‘tonto’ (thug) working for the smugglers – appeared and violently rammed the Customs vehicle from the rear, causing it to skid and crash into a tree along the roadside.
Anisah, who was seriously injured, was rushed to Raja Perempuan Zainab II (RPZII) hospital in Kota Baru, but died of her injuries. The driver of the 4WD vehicle and the two vans managed to escape.