ON
friday
OCT 25, 2013
byMeera Ammani
The
ambience is set. Soothingmusic plays
in the background, and temperatures are
just right. Beautiful décor is pleasing to the
eye and the smiling faces of well-groomed
staff send a warmwelcome. All is perfect,
almost flawless and these andmore make
for visitors to return, time and again.
Thousands of Malaysians patronise
shoppingmalls everyday. Some visit for
leisure while others frequent them for
essentials. As with any property which
members of the public have access to,
crimes can and do take place there too.
Providing security to a large crowd of
people can be a daunting task, but the
management teams behind these shopping
malls are constantly sprucing up their
securitymeasures to offer additional
security and peace of mind to their shoppers
and tenants.
smart systems
Thanks tomodern technology, video
surveillance has advancedwith the times,
that even detailed images such as facial
features and license plate numbers can be
zoomed in and captured, clear as daylight.
A spokesperson fromMid Valley
Megamall vouches for this invention and
says: “Sotfware IP CCTV Systems with
smart integration have got to be the biggest
security innovation in recent times.” These
greatly help security personnel identify
crimes and solve them efficiently, and in the
most-timelymanner.
“Installing CCTV’s at parking areas,
entrances and exits of the mall, and high risk
areas near ATMs, jewellery shops, money-
changers and banks are absolutely vital,”
adds Frankie Chai, the director and advisor
of SecomMalaysia, a renowned security
company. “Ideally, shoppingmalls should be
equippedwith CCTVs with the advanced
technology of being both, recorded and
viewed live, by the security control office.
There must also be sufficient cameras set up
around the property and camera resolutions
must be of high quality,” he adds.
well lit paths
Although some may shun it as secondary,
lighting plays a very important role in
curbing crime. In fact, it works alongside
all other aspects of security which enable
guards andwatchmen to do their jobs
more efficiently.
More often than not, criminals commit
crimes in secluded and dimly lit areas that
are least likely to draw attention.
“Car parks are more vulnerable to crimes
and therefore require better security. A good
surveillance camera should be able to record
the face of the driver and capture the car
registration number during entry and exit,”
explains Chai. Awell lit car park would not
only complement a high resolution camera
in capturing these images, but also the
happenings in the surrounding environment
as well.
Sunway Pyramid shoppingmall’s
director of operations, Jason Chin, explains
that one of the mall’s crime deterring steps
adopted is the use of proper lighting. “The
lighting in our car park remains above the
Malaysian standard guideline. The luminous
emittance level in our car park is at least 120
lux every night, and hits 300 lux during the
day, while the guideline requires that only
100 lux is necessary.”
panic button
A technology proven to be popular for its
quick response time and ease of use are
panic buttons and call boxes. Essentially this
brings much relief and benefits the person
in distress. It reassures them
that they are just an arm’s length from
security authorities who can address
their safety concerns.
“The i-Alert emergency button is a
wireless alert system that we have
implemented in Sunway Pyramid.
It instantly sends out an SMS to our security
officers, who will then promptly check out
their CCTV system. At the
same time, the police and our mall’s
management are alerted. Security
guards nearest to the location can offer
assistance promptly, regardless of whether
they are on foot, Segways or motorcycles,
and help can be renderedwithin one
minute,” explains Chin.
Skilled guards
In shoppingmalls, having security guards
on site or doing patrol rounds, create an
authoritative presence that may deter a
criminal from committing a crime.
These security personnel are also the
representatives of the mall, who are
most likely to be approached in cases
of emergencies.
“Among the key safetymeasures we have
implemented in Suria KLCC, are security
personnel positioned at strategic locations
on every level. Amanager on duty will
immediately alert the emergency response
team (ERT) upon an emergency situation,”
informs AndrewBrien, CEO of Suria KLCC.
It is also good to know that the security
personnel of this shoppingmall are first aid
certified and trained to effectively respond
to the distressed during emergencies.
At Mid ValleyMegamall,
apart from a teamof
uniformed
guards
overlooking the
property, the
management has
also boosted
security by having
plain clothes
security personnel
keep a watchful eye
on their mall-wide
surroundings.
“By and large,
most shopping
malls inMalaysia
place a lot of
importance on
security, and
statistically,
crime rates in
shoppingmalls are
substantially lower
than crime rates
on the streets,”
explains HCChan,
president of
Malaysia Shopping
Mall Association (PPK). “However, security
measures can only do somuch if public
apathy persists.
It must be remembered that public
awareness and vigilance must also be
there. Safety and security is the
responsibility of everyone,” he adds.
By educating the public about security
and constantly upgrading and adopting a
comprehensive security plan, shopping
malls around the country can effectively
curb crime and provide customers with the
dire essential - a sense of security and peace
of mindwhile shopping.
FIABCItowardsexcellence
across
its 38 year history, FIABCI
Malaysia has built for itself a strong
foundation. Organising events associated
with property development and real
estate, locally as well as internationally,
is part of its undertakings. Some of its
highly acclaimed international events are
the Asia Pacific Real Estate Congress and
the World Congress.
Another similarly distinguished and
celebrated event would have to be the
Malaysian Property Award. It was formerly
known as FIABCI Award of Distinction or
FIABCI Property Award of Distinction.
This year the Malaysia Property Award
moves into its 21st year. Word has it
that the awards presentation at the
gala night on Nov 9, is going to be one
remarkable and memorable occasion.
Other smaller scale yet significant
events that involve many, directly as well
as indirectly, in the property industry are
FIABCI’s Morning Talks, its Brown Paper
Bag Seminars, its Smart Investment in
Property Seminars, its Mentoring
Programme introduced by its Young
Members Committee, its fellowship
and networking nights, members’
gatherings and overseas visits - all
educational, informative and helpful,
contributing to the growth of the
Malaysian real estate industry.
While property may be its
fundamental focus, FIABCI also makes
time for corporate social responsibility
(CSR) initiatives and works of charity.
Watch our weekly property column for
further insights on FIABCI, leading to the
Malaysia Property Award 2013 Gala,
announcing this year's winners.
ADVERTORIAL
Security
in
shoppingmalls
X
X
Please email your queries to us:
>Todeter thieves and criminals frompreying
on their premises, shoppingmalls inMalaysia
are turning tomodern technology and trained
personnel for added security
Top 5 safety features
for shopping malls
X
X
Access controls for car parks,
24-hour emergency alarm doors,
turnstile for high risk areas.
X
X
Alarm systems for individual
tenants – these systems should be
armed during closing hours. In the
event of alarm activation, the
security control centre is alerted
for further action.
X
X
Panic buttons for emergencies.
X
X
-ray and Walk Through metal/
explosive detectors which are
common in Thailand, Philippines
and Indonesia.
X
X
Sufficient and well trained
guards to patrol the mall 24/7.
This includes car park areas.
Information provided by SECOMMalaysia
Tips to stay safe in
shopping malls
X
X
During opening and closing hours,
staff tend to concentrate more on
setting up or closing their stores.
Thieves are aware of this, so be extra
alert of your surroundings during
these periods.
X
X
Park your car in a visible place.
Hidden, blind and dark corners are
high risk areas. Women should take
advantage of the ladies' parking
facility available at most malls.
X
X
Don’t fidget around for your keys in
the car park. Get them ready when
you’re about to exit the shopping
mall. Immediately lock your car door
once you enter the vehicle, and
leave as soon as possible.
X
X
Opt for wristband wallets instead
of conventional wallets and
handbags. These offer a more
discreet method of carrying your
valuables and some are designed
to even fit in mobile phones.
Information provided by SECOMMalaysia
INSIGHTS
CUT AND KEEP
