SUNWAY Group has invested more than RM500 million to improve security, connectivity, accessibility, landscape and green efforts at its Sunway City Kuala Lumpur (KL) township.
Senior managing director Datuk K.L. Tan said as a master community developer, Sunway recognised the importance of investing in these components, especially on safety and security.
He said there were more than 5,000 closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) installed in Sunway City KL, including in Sunway-owned buildings in Bandar Sunway.
The CCTVs had motion detection with pop -up and facial recognition features, he told the New Straits Times.
Sunway City KL also employs close to 900 auxiliary and plainclothes policemen and security guards, some of whom conduct 24-hour joint patrol sessions with police personnel in the township.
At the group level, Sunway had installed more than 10,000 CCTVs in i ts townships in Malaysia and projects overseas, as well as employing about 1,400 auxiliary and plain clothes policemen and security guards, said
Tan.
“We invest in auxiliary and plainclothes police personnel and security guards and work hard to fill those jobs with locals. They are in our shopping malls, hotels, universities, hospitals, theme parks and in all public places. For each business division, the guards work differently.
They are trained to ensure security and to know locations. For example, mall security personnel should know where the outlets are located when asked by visitors,” said Tan.
“Crime rate in Sunway City is at below one per cent but any crime inside the shops is beyond our control. We do a lot of crime prevention and we put barriers and create walk paths for pedestrians.
“This prevents motorcyclists from coming into close contact with the pedestrians and snatching their bags or personal items,” he said.
Sunway City KL is the flagship development of Sunway Group, whose founder and chairman is Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah.
This vibrant township originated from 323.75ha mining land is a product of outstanding rehabilitation and restoration efforts. It is currently home to a population of 200,000, and houses more than 60 million sq ft of existing and future world-class facilities and developments.
According to Tan, Sunway City was one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations and attracted 42 million visits.
“The township is regarded as a safe city and we aim for it to become a smart and sustainable city model. With 42 million visitors a year, we have to invest to improve security.
“We have constructed the tourist police service centre, which is a first in Selangor. The one-stop centre at the Sunway Pyramid mall will provide tourists with safety advice and solutions,” said Tan.
Sunway Pyramid has also taken the initiative to be the first shopping mall in Malaysia to be equipped with panic buttons.