KUALA LUMPUR: The thought of a home invasion, being tailgated, or becoming a victim of robbery, snatch theft, or assault can be terrifying.
So being prepared and having survival knowledge is necessary to ensure personal safety, especially for women, said safety activist and emergency survival trainer K. Balasupramaniam, or Bala, as he is better known.
The Road Safety Marshal Club founder and president shared many key tips for women to improve their street smarts.
“If you’re in a petrol station bathroom and you see a wall socket on the floor facing the toilet bowl, ask yourself why such a thing would be placed there,” he said.
Spy cameras and surveillance devices can these days be hidden in objects such as clothes hooks, wall sockets, coffee cup lids, soda bottles, screws, light bulbs, and car keys, he said.
If you’re in a hotel room, the easiest way to detect hidden cameras is to use a flashlight, Bala added.
“Turn on the flashlight on your phone and turn off the lights in your room. If there is a reflective or red light from an object, there might be a camera there.”
He also gave tips on safety tools that can be easily bought online and kept at home, such as a loudhailer, padlock protector, door stop alarm, and door viewers.
A loudhailer can help one call for help in case of an attack or natural disaster, while things such as a padlock protector can make it harder for intruders to get in, he said.
Bala covered all this in a one-day course titled “City Survival Training for Women” held at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre here yesterday.
He also advised women to audit their homes to determine things that could possibly go wrong.
“Leave the chair pointing in a certain direction or close the curtain in a certain way before leaving the room.
“That way, if someone comes into the room and tampers with the things, they would know,” he said.
He advised women who are living alone to text a friend or a family member when going out and give them details such as their whereabouts and what time they would be home.
“If you’re going out with a boyfriend and he is dropping you off at your apartment building, tell him to wait until you have texted him that you’re safely home,” he said.
Carrying self-defence tools such as a water-based pepper spray is also encouraged, he said.
Bala also advised women to not reveal personal information to strangers such as taxi or ehailing drivers.
“If you’re going to the airport, don’t reveal to the driver where you work or where you’re going for a holiday.
“They could be collecting information about you to make you the victim of a virtual kidnapping.”
In a virtual kidnapping, the scammer would contact the target’s loved ones and claim to have taken the target hostage to seek ransom payment.
Bala also advised that before checking in your luggage, take a photo of it and, if possible, a video of its condition, adding that many Malaysians have been made unsuspecting drug mules at airports.
On elevator safety, he said women should ensure that they are standing as close to the lift buttons as possible.
When driving, if being tailgated, one should not engage with the perpetrator, said Bala.
“Drive to a police station, a fire station, a shopping mall, or buildings where there are security guards or auxiliary police to help you.
“Avoid driving on long-stretch highways and flyovers and don’t go to housing areas or your home,” he said, adding that if walking outdoors, be alert for motorcyclists with damaged number plates roaming around the perimeters.
“They could be looking for a snatch theft victim,” he said.
Bala added that carrying a personal data emergency card – comprising one’s name, blood group, medical information, and emergency contact person – would also be lifesaving in case of an emergency.
He also recommended downloading apps such as the SaveME 999 police app to call for emergency assistance.
