Army steps up drone surveillance on border routes amid unrest in southern Thailand

MELAKA, Sept 17 — The Malaysian Army is deploying advanced drone surveillance to bolster security on the Malaysia-Thailand border, especially in response to recent unrest in southern Thailand. Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman explained that drones enable the Army to overcome challenges posed by difficult terrain in patrolling remote areas inaccessible by ground troops.

"The border is long and certain regions are impassable due to hilly and forested landscapes," he told Bernama at Terendak Camp. "Drones provide real-time data and allow us to deploy ground forces for follow-up actions."

Azhan assured that border security remains stringent, with 24/7 operations in place. "Even though the terrain offers opportunities for illegal crossings, we are firmly in control," he assured. No compromise will be made as personnel are given strict guidelines to react swiftly to any breaches. Prior to his visit, Azhan also discussed military cooperation with Russian counterparts, focusing on joint training and exchange programs in artillery and combined arms tactics.

Both countries are near finalizing training arrangements for deployment of TDM personnel to receive specialized instruction.