RM80,000 compensation for Malaysian injured in Thai bomb blast

PETALING JAYA: The Thai government today handed over compensation of 650,000 baht (about RM80,000) to one of two Malaysians injured in a bomb blast in Tak Bai, Narathiwat, on June 29.

Narathiwat governor Boonchuay Homyamyen said the Thai government deeply regretted the incident and assured the public that security measures would continue to be strengthened to protect residents and tourists.

“We will not sit idly by. The Thai government is committed to ensuring the safety of all parties and will continue to work on restoring tourists’ confidence in Thailand,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

Boonchuay said the payment was disbursed through a government fund for victims of security-related incidents, covering injuries and property damage.

He presented the compensation cheque to Yusri Udin, 38, during a ceremony at the Sungai Golok customs office.

Yusri and Abdullah Syarapi Abd Rahman, 45, were travelling in a Proton X50 when a bomb hidden in a roadside culvert exploded near a junction in Tak Bai at about 11.40am.

Thai authorities said the Malaysians were not the intended targets of the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by suspected insurgents.

Following the incident, a 40-year-old suspect was detained. Thai security forces launched a comprehensive investigation and conducted explosive ordnance disposal operations and forensic examinations at the scene.

Yusri and Abdullah later returned to Malaysia after being treated in hospital.