Joining forces: PGA personnel with a general duty policeman on their rounds at KLIA in the wake of the shooting incident that left one bodyguard injured. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: 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 last Sunday that left a bodyguard severely injured.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said members of the General Operations Force (PGA) have been deployed to both terminals of the airport.
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“There are now additions to general duty policemen, aka the blue uniforms, at the buildings. It is now double of what was deployed before.
“Full-gear PGA policemen are also on patrol at entry points and outside the airport buildings,” he said when contacted yesterday.
No exact manpower figures were given.
Comm Hussein reiterated that in the near future, the use of escooters 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.
On the early morning of April 14, KLIA was rocked by a gunman who allegedly attempted to kill his wife at the arrival hall.
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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 Block C of the airport car park.
Farah’s bodyguard, Muhammad Nur Hadith, nicknamed Along, saved her life but was shot at the stomach in the process.
He remains under observation in hospital after undergoing a five-hour surgery to repair his intestine on Tuesday afternoon.
Following that, police arrested the suspect in Kota Baru, Kelantan, at around 3pm on Monday – about 38 hours after the shooting.
On Tuesday, Hafizul Harawi was remanded for seven days and brought to Selangor to facilitate investigations into the attempted murder.
Shortly after the shooting, Comm 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.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Tuesday that any security-enhancing measures at the airports would require discussions between the police, National Security Council and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
Discussions would be held as soon as possible, he said.
