KUALA LUMPUR: Retail and hotel industry players in Klang Valley are lining up to meet with the police on how to boost security following renewed threats by the Islamic State (IS) against Malaysia.
This comes after police confirmed that a grenade attack on a nightclub in Puchong was carried out by IS-linked militants.
Shopping malls said the declaration of war was another push for them to beef up security in their buildings.
“Twenty years ago, you wouldn’t think this would be necessary. A while ago we were talking about snatch thieves or pick pockets but now we are entering another level of threat,” said Pavilion chief executive officer and former Bukit Bintang-KLCC (BBKLCC) Tourism Association chairman Joyce Yap.
“I think everyone has to beef up, especially shopping centres that have night entertainment.
“They have to be more cautious with their security measures.
“But how?
“We have to work with the police and take guidance from them. They would know how to combat,” she said.
As an immediate measure, Malaysian Shopping Malls Association adviser HC Chan said that malls had started deploying more guards on patrol and intensifying closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance.
He called on shoppers to be more alert of activities around them.
“We should all continue with our normal lifestyle but with more security alertness and responsibility towards such threats of terrorism in the country.
“The public can play an important role in reporting any suspicious characters or abnormal activities or movements in public places including malls,” said Chan, who is also Sunway Malls and Theme Parks chief executive officer.
Meanwhile, industry players in Malaysia’s luxury hotel sector are set to meet on anti-terrorism in August, said Malaysian Association of Hotels president Cheah Swee Hee.
One of the major topics following last week’s incident is how hotels here could ensure the safety of their customers against terror attacks, he said.
“We were already going to discuss terrorism before what happened last week.
“This is a global issue and it has been bugging the travel industry. Unfortunately, the first case has happened on our soil.
“We need to know how to step up security, not only for us but for the general public,” Cheah said.
