Over 3,000 cops to be deployed for ASEAN Summit in KL

KUALA LUMPUR — Thousands of police officers will be stationed at strategic locations across Kuala Lumpur as the police beef up security to ensure the safety of world leaders attending the 27th ASEAN Summit, local media reported.

Federal police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Muhammad Fuad Abu Zarim said there has been no security threat yet, but cited last week’s deadly terrorist attacks in Paris when stressing the need for vigilance.

“Look at what happened in Paris. That was unexpected.

“As such, we always have to be vigilant to ensure the ASEAN Summit runs smoothly,” he was quoted saying by local paper New Straits Times.

“We are taking extra measures amidst the heightened security. There’s no compromise when it comes to the safety of delegates and everyone who is involved with the summit,” he also said.

According to Mr Fuad, around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed during the summit, while foreign delegates will also allowed to bring their own armed escorts if they apply for an interim licence from the local police force.

Such escorts will only be allowed to carry semi-automatic weapons instead of automatic guns, NST reported. Countries such as US, Russia and China have already been given interim licences for their own security detail during the summit, it added.

In another report by The Star that said over 4,000 police personnel will be deployed, Mr Fuad said security will be tightened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), hotels for delegates, summit venue Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre — with 500 police officers to be at the latter throughout the summit.

The police’s bomb disposal squad will also be deployed at KLCC, Mr Fuad said.

Confirming that over 200 police vehicles will be used during the event, Mr Fuad said that roads will not be closed down throughout the event.

“We do not want to inconvenience the public, so we will only close roads if there are important leaders using the road to get to certain venues. Once they have passed the area, the roads will be reopened,” he said.

The ASEAN Summit hosted by Malaysia will see delegates from its member nations Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attending.

The ASEAN nations are also expected to meet representatives from their dialogue partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, the US and the United Nations.

World leaders that will visit Malaysia for the summit include US president Barack Obama and China’s prime minister Li Keqiang. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE