Bangkok shopping malls step up security after bomb blasts

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: MAJOR MALLS in prime shopping areas in Bangkok have stepped up security measures after bomb incidents on Sunday.

Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president for marketing at Central Pattana (CPN), said the company had ordered security staff to investigate all vehicles and baggage handled by visitors at entrances and exits of all of its shopping complexes throughout the Kingdom, comprising CentralWorld, CentralPlaza, and Central Festival.

Such intensive measures are to make people feel confident about their security at its shopping malls. On Monday, the company also began increasing the number of security guards at all of its shopping centers.

“All shopping malls operated by CPN will implement security measures more intensively,” Nattakit said. “We have also joined with outside agencies from both the private and public sectors to prepare our readiness in such security matters at our shopping malls. This includes prevention plans and security staff and equipment, such as the installation of CCTV [closed-circuit television] cameras both inside and outside the shopping complexes.

“CPN wants to ensure that all security measures will be fully implemented by concentrating on the safety of its customers as its priority.”

Dr Anat Arbhabhirama, chairman of the management committee of Bangkok Mass Transit System, operator of the Skytrain, said the company had been highly concerned with security over the 15 years of its operation. Intensive security measures have been put in place to ensure that all passengers are safe while using the BTS system.

Measures implemented on the Skytrain system include having security staff go through all bags handled by passengers; having metal detectors at all entrances; and more than 1,000 CCTV cameras installed throughout the BTS system.

“From a business point of view we have no serious concerns, as passengers are still confident in our mass-transit system and the intensive security measures we have implemented,” Anat said. The BTS system serves 700,000-750,000 passengers on the average weekday, and 600,000-650,000 a day during weekends.

The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association said the situation in that shopping district was still normal, and all security measures had been implemented as usual, including the integration of all CCTV cameras throughout the area to one control room, and security staff patrolling the Skywalk.

RSTA is able to call an urgent meeting of its members within 15 minutes of any unexpected incident.

In the case of blast at Siam Paragon, the Bank of Thailand’s assistant governor Mathee Supapongse yesterday said that the incidence could cause a short term panic.

If the government could quickly find out the wrongdoers, this could bring back people confidence quickly.

— Phuket Gazette Editors