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Malaysia: Security tightened against terrorism during SEA Games
Six paratroopers descended from the sky, a helicopter flying low and a team of VAT69 commandos suddenly stormed into a bus to rescue hostages. The drill was completed in a tense situation.
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Kuala Lumpur skyline. (Shutterstock/File)
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n conjunction with the upcoming 2017 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, the police launched series of drills named “Ex-Rimau” and the last Tabletop exercise was witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister cum Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The drills started with a team of armed paratroopers attached to VAT 69 commandos descending from the height of 4,000 feet to land on the ground. The second action was to handle hijacking of bus. The commandos and the air wing unit of the police collaborated with helicopter to stop the bus by using an explosive, then broke into the bus though window to overpower the terrorists and rescued hostages in the bus.
Others present included Defence cum Special Functions Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Home Ministry Secretary-General Alwi Ibrahim, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, director-general of National Security Council.
In a statement, Ahmad Zahid said in conjunction with SEA Games 2017, the authorities have carried out preparations to beef up security on anti-terrorism to ensure that both the participants and audience of SEA Games were safe. Security arrangements were ready at venues of various sports events, hostels and public transport facilities such as KL International Airport and KL Sentral.
“The public would have to co-operate with the security forces especially the police if any terror-related attacks were to take place. Crisis management is to handle the crisis, save lives and properties to restore normalcy and avoid “crisis within crisis”.
He said during the National Security Council meeting on 11 April chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided Zahid would chair the High Level Committee for the 2017 SEA Games. The committee later set up the SEA Games Anti-terrorism Task Force on May 12 led by the police, assisted by armed forces to be in charge of terror-related crisis during the event.
“Based on directive from the National Security Council, terrorists would be dealt by Crisis Control Committee (CCC), Crisis Management team led by the police and the crisis response team.”
The 29th SEA Games is scheduled to be held from Aug. 19 to 30 and the 2017 ASEAN Para Games from Sept. 17 to 23.
IGP Khalid said with the completion of Tabletop Exercise, police is ready with preparations. He welcomed tourists and athletes from various countries to visit Malaysia.
“Currently we have yet to receive any tip off on terrorists’ attack during SEA Games but the police is on standby.”
Khalid said this after the completion of Tabletop Exercise held at the Police Academy in Cheras.
He said for the past one month police had carried out “Ex-Rimau” drills in Langkawi, Kedah, Terengganu, Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The training held on Thursday with the 6th exercise and the final one.
“I am satisfied with the drills today as the police is ready to handle any possible terrorist threat during SEA Games.”
He said the police referred to the terrorist attacks in England, France and Indonesia and drafted anti-terrorism measures, carried out inspection at various venues of SEA Games, hotels resided by athletes and other related agencies.
This article appeared on the Sin Chew Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
