GEORGE TOWN: A police escort has been provided to two former Thai leading ministers as a safety precaution, says Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
The Penang law enforcement chief was referring to exiled VVIP siblings Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra who were within Penang for an individual trip.
“We do not need any unforeseen circumstances happening right here.
“If an individual of that importance trips Penang, we have to give a police escort.
“We have to offer it as we cannot risk the chances of there being people with sick intentions who usually takes advantage of their visit here, ” he mentioned during a press conference held at the George Town police district headquarters in Sarana Patani on Fri (Sept 23).
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Comm Mohd Shuhaily was addressing questions about the brothers and sisters being given law enforcement escorts during their journey here.
“We are aware of the case of Australian Annapuranee Jenkins who was a commoner and was kidnapped and later slain.
“In this particular case, it was not even one previous prime minister, there were two of them.
“Just imagine if anything untoward acquired happened to them.
“The scale of attention that would be provided to Penang.
“We do not need that, ” he said.
He then confirmed they were here on the personal visit.
The duo had been escorted by law enforcement outriders and bodyguards during their travels in Penang.
The ex-Thai prime ministers were spotted on the Cecil Street market during peak lunch hour ordering koay teow th’ng and Chinese pasembur at about 1pm on Wednesday (Sept 21).
Earlier, they were seen in a food court within Weld Quay.
There was no official confirmation on what their schedule was, with a source saying that it was a private holiday.
Thaksin, 73, has been Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 in order to 2006, while Yingluck, 55, was the initial Thai female prime minister, serving through 2011 to 2014.
Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 to escape a data corruption ruling and has lived in exile ever since.
A questionable 2013 amnesty Costs that would have paved the way for his return instead triggered road protests which culminated in the 2014 hen house against Yingluck’s authorities.
She has been tried in 2016 but did not come in court in Aug 2017 for the verdict. An arrest justify was issued.
Yingluck fled the nation and is said to be living in London.