(Update) Central security monitoring centre being mulled for KL Sentral

KUALA LUMPUR: A central surveilence centre for KL Sentral Kuala Lumpur’s leading transport hub may be in the works.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the centre would enable current security systems available in the hub to be synchronised with police systems.

"This would enable follow-up action to be taken and sidesteps the necessity of going through various levels of communication," he said after a 150-minute walkabout at the hub to check on its security systems.

Zahid who is also Home Minister said he has instructed the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim, who is the chair of a working group with stakeholders, to study the recommendation.

He said their findings would be submitted to him in a month. He would then submit the paper to the cabinet to review the suggestions.

Zahid said that there may be allocations made for facility but stressed that he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak separately.

He said this was among others to weigh whether the funding should be allocated through a joint venture with private companies or those linked with the government.

Zahid said he had also instructed all stakeholders within KL Sentral including Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to increase the number of auxiliary police personnel in the hub which attracts 200,000 visitors daily.

He stressed that they are given a month from today to do prepare for the Sea Games.

Zahid also said that the ministry was also working on mid-term plans in line with the introduction of MRT Line 2.

“The plans include fitting its existing security systems with high definition cameras besides facial recognition and tracking software for their CCTVs. This would also cover areas such as Sungai Besi where the MRT, KTM and LRT extends to," he added.

Also present during the visit was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd president and group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azmi Abdul Aziz and MRCB group managing director Tan Sri Mohamed Salim Fateh Din.