Malaysia has beefed up security along the Thai border after an arms heist in southern Thailand left four soldiers dead, the government said today.

Security forces on the border have increased surveillance following Sunday's incident in Narathiwat province, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told The Sun.

"Preventive action to ensure that suspected bandits or members of insurgent groups do not cross over into the country is underway," he said.

Four soldiers were shot dead and 18 schools torched by attackers during a raid on a military base in Narathiwat in which about 100 weapons were stolen.

Troublemaker

Thai police chief General Sant Sarutanond identified the prime suspect behind the assaults as a "local troublemaker" with dual Thai-Malaysian citizenship who had fled across the border.

The attacks were the worst incidents of violence in the Muslim-majority south since July, when five policemen and a civilian were killed and three police officers were wounded by masked gunmen.

The five southern provinces have been plagued in recent years by small-scale Muslim separatist violence, but recent attacks have been blamed on criminals protecting lucrative arms smuggling operations. - AFP