A Hat Yai traffic police officer has countered claims by a group of Malaysian bikers who criticised the way they were stopped and fined, insisting that his handling of the incident was in accordance with Thai traffic laws.
Pol Sgt Maj Veerasak Phansaehaman said he stopped the group of 17 bikers after noticing several traffic violations, including loud exhaust systems, and that fines were issued based on violations found on individual motorcycles.
The officer spoke out after the Malaysian bikers criticised the stop and fines as unfair and called on their compatriots on social media to boycott travel to Thailand, sparking an online backlash and debate in both countries.
Veerasak told Thai PBS that he spotted the group while on patrol. He stopped them and inspected their motorcycles, finding traffic violations on nine of them. Police issued nine tickets, with total fines amounting to 12,000 baht.
Pol Sgt Maj Veerasak Phansaehaman
This differed from the bikers' account on social media that they had been issued 15 tickets and fined about 15,000 baht.
Veerasak, who runs a Facebook page called “Ja Wee Hat Yai” with about 70,000 followers, also shared video footage from his dashcam showing how the incident unfolded.
The controversy erupted after Malaysian biker influencer Tok Singa posted a video on Aug 15, claiming that his group of 17 motorcyclists had been treated unfairly by traffic police from Hat Yai police station in Songkhla province while visiting Thailand.
He claimed that only one police officer handled the inspection, which took almost three hours, and that the group was threatened with detention if they delayed payment of the fines.
He also claimed that some of the motorcycles had factory-standard exhaust systems that were nevertheless deemed too loud by Thai authorities, and that police refused to accept digital driving licences.
The video went viral in Malaysia, prompting some social media users to call for a boycott of Hat Yai and Thailand.
Veerasak disputed several of the claims, saying some of the information presented online had distorted the facts.
He said he was directing traffic in front of Hat Yai police station when he noticed a convoy of about 17 Malaysian motorcycles passing by. Some had modified rear lights that flashed, while others appeared to have excessively loud exhaust systems.
He said police followed the group and stopped them at the Dam Bridge intersection before asking the bikers to take their motorcycles to the police station for a detailed inspection of their documents, compulsory insurance, driving licences and vehicle equipment.
Veerasak said the violations found included modified flashing rear lights and exhaust systems that exceeded the legally permitted noise level.
Regarding driving licences, Veerasak said foreign motorists must have a valid international driving permit or an acceptable physical licence recognised under applicable agreements. Digital documents or renewal slips issued through foreign applications could not be accepted, he said.
He denied that the bikers had been targeted because they were Malaysian and said officers had treated the group politely and fairly. He also denied that police had threatened or harassed the bikers, saying the same traffic regulations applied to Thai and foreign motorists.
After the fines were paid, Veerasak said the discussion ended amicably and the atmosphere was friendly.
The motorcyclists even posed for a group photo with him as a memento and gave him permission to post footage of the incident on his Facebook page.
He said he was surprised that the incident later turned into a cross-border controversy.
Veerasak urged foreign tourists travelling to Thailand to familiarise themselves with Thai traffic laws and comply with them to ensure road safety and avoid problems during their trips.
The online reaction shifted after the Thai police explanation, with some Malaysian social media users expressing support for the Thai officers and questioning the bikers' account.
Tok Singa later said he had no problem with Thai people defending their police, but expressed dissatisfaction with some Malaysian bikers who sided with the Thai authorities and used harsh language against his group.
Malaysia is one of Thailand's major sources of foreign tourists. More than 2.49 million Malaysian visitors had entered Thailand by Aug 15 this year, according to tourism statistics.
