The police have doubled their staff strength and stepped up patrols at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after Terminal 1 became the scene of a shooting on April 14 that left a bodyguard severely injured.
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said members of the General Operations Force (PGA) have been deployed to both terminals of the airport.
“There are now additions to general duty policemen, also known as the blue uniforms, at the buildings. It is now double what was deployed before.
“Full-gear PGA policemen are also on patrol at entry points and outside the airport buildings,” he said on April 19, without elaborating on exact manpower figures.
Datuk Hussein said that in the near future, the use of e-scooters for patrols will be introduced at the airports.
He has previously said the police could respond faster and cover more ground during patrols with these vehicles.
The PGA, which reports under the Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department, is generally deployed to assist in public security, counter-terrorism operations and border security.
It is also home to the elite Senoi Praaq unit, which comprises Orang Asli PGA personnel who specialise in deep jungle reconnaissance work.
Early on April 14, a gunman allegedly attempted to kill his wife at the KLIA arrival hall.
Travel agency owner Farah Md Isa, better known as Farah Cie, was there awaiting the return of her clients from umrah (mini-pilgrimage) at 1.20am.
The suspect threw a firecracker towards her direction, leading to injuries to passers-by, before opening fire at her at close range.
The 38-year-old then escaped to his car parked at the airport carpark.
Ms Farah’s bodyguard Nur Hadith, nicknamed Along, saved her life, but he was shot in his stomach in the process.
He remains under observation in hospital after undergoing a five-hour surgery to repair his intestine on April 16.
The police had arrested the suspect in Kota Baru, Kelantan, around 3pm on April 15 – about 38 hours after the shooting.
On April 16, Hafizul Harawi was remanded for seven days and brought to Selangor to facilitate investigations into the attempted murder.
Shortly after the shooting, Mr Hussein had suggested improvements to security measures at the airport.
He opined that the traffic lane closest to the entry doors of the arrival and departure lobbies posed potential security risks.
He added that the decision to install metal scanners at all entry points would be up to the airport’s management.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on April 16 that any security-enhancing measures at the airports would require discussions between the police, National Security Council and Malaysia Airports Holdings. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
