The Malaysian Association for Shopping and High rise Complex Management had been closely involved with the Housing and Local Government Ministry on discussions and dialogues pertaining to security in car parks, even a year before the Canny Ong case.

After the case we made many statements with regard to the security situation in both covered and uncovered car parks.

Recommendations and guidelines were given to both the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Home Ministry. 

We even came out with a training- manual for security personnel in shopping complexes. Though so much has been said, no one can guarantee total safety and security, as we also believe "self-security" is the first line of defense.

I cannot speak about car parks belonging to non-members of our association. But I believe shopping complexes or malls interested in attracting customers must surely improve and keep on improving their car park safety and security.

As for CCTV's, our previous survey amongst member complexes showed more than 80% had cameras installed in their car parks.

They also had safety and security features like strobe lights and sirens, which are activated during incidents, boom gates/barriers/humps at entrances and exits, security posts at exits and within car parks.

The locations of these CCTV's are not necessarily obvious to shoppers and other patrons (and, instead, may be deliberately discreet) but there are more than 200 of them in Berjaya Times Square, and between 100 and 150 in Mid Valley Megamall and Sunway Pyramid each.

RICHARD CHAN,
President,
Malaysian Association for
Shopping and High rise
Complex Management,
Petaling Jaya.