Better mall security since Canny Ong murder case

KUALA LUMPUR: Security in most Malaysian malls changed after Canny Ong was abducted in 2003 from a mall car park here, before being raped and murdered.

Malaysian Association for Shopping and High-Rise Complex Management past president Richard Chan said the technology employed in maintaining security has improved since 2003.

“At the time, CCTVs in shopping malls were analogue.

“Now malls are using digital ones.

“Back then, there was a 30-second lapse every time the camera moved, but you don’t have that anymore,” he said in an interview.

Richard said, however, it is a misconception to think that malls were unsafe back then.

“Security has always been quite good. Crimes like murder and kidnapping are very minimal,” he said, adding that for malls that record millions of visitors daily, the crimes that happen occasionally would be pick-pocketing or minor theft.

“Shopping malls are still one of the safest places to be,” he stressed.

On Friday, former aircraft cabin cleaning supervisor Ahmad Najib Aris was hanged at the Kajang Prison for the rape and murder of Ong at the 11km mark of Jalan Klang Lama between 1am and 5am on June 14, 2003.

Chan, who consults on security in malls, said the management of shopping malls was always looking to improve security, especially with new threats like terrorist attacks.

He said among the security features that have come along since 2003 was employing more security guards and introducing auxiliary police personnel to patrol in malls.

After Ong’s abduction from Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC), the mall has more than doubled its CCTVs to 360 throughout the complex, said its senior security manager Ibrahim Md Yusoff.

He added that BSC now has 70 security personnel, of whom 42 work the day shift while the others work at night.

“We also have panic buttons and, if requested, we escort tenants and customers to their cars, be they inside the mall or nearby parking areas outside the mall.”

Sunway Pyramid was the pioneering shopping centre to have auxiliary policemen on patrol.

Sunway Shopping Malls and Theme Parks chief executive officer H.C. Chan said Sunway Pyramid was the first mall in Malaysia to set up an auxiliary police force for crime prevention.

“Our personnel are also equipped with Segways which move three times faster than foot patrols.”

Other than installing many CCTVs and having a good mall design, he said the escalator and lift lobbies in the carpark were designed to eradicate hidden spots.

He said that Ong’s case generated a lot of security concerns and interest on mall security.

Both Richard and Chan, however, agreed shoppers need to play their part and be vigilant to ensure that they do not become victims of crime.

1 Utama Shopping Centre general manager Patrick So said the mall has always emphasised security.

He said customers can always ask to be escorted to their cars, adding there were also guard dogs in the car park to deter would-be thieves.

So added that they also have a Polis Bantuan team which patrols the mall with security guards.