Malaysia Airports increases patrols at KLIA

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd has enhanced security at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport following a heist on Wednesday. Its senior general manager (security and airport fire and rescue services) Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd Ismail said the frequency of patrols by armed security personnel had been increased."We have also positioned plainclothes security personnel and further increased the frequency of patrols along the perimeter," he said yesterday.The move complements that of the police force, which has decided to have six policemen armed with submachine guns stationed at the airport round-the-clock.Kamruddin said there were 1,328 closed-circuit television cameras at the airport and 30 per cent of the cameras were continuously recording at high security risk areas inside the terminal and airside (where aircraft are parked). "The remainder of the CCTVs at other locations such as the public areas are on a random surveillance mode but can record by manual activation when required."Since the incident, additional surveillance cameras in public areas have been programmed for continuous recording," he said.Kamaruddin thanked the police for taking immediate measures to enhance security at KLIA by posting men round-the-clock at public areas such as the departure and arrival halls and outside the terminal building."We are committed to ensuring the safety of the passengers, staff and the public," he said.In the incident at 7.50pm on Wednesday, at least four gunmen ambushed two moneychangers and their armed escort outside the departure hall.More than 50 shots were fired in the shoot-out which saw five people wounded, including a foreign worker who was caught in the crossfire.The robbers escaped with a bag containing S$1.5 million (RM3.5 million), which the moneychangers were carrying.