IGP vows tight security at F1 circuit

KUALA LUMPUR: The police will ensure that security will be tight for the Formula One Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix this weekend, says Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

While the authorities have not detected any terror threat, the police are always on alert.

“There will be enough police personnel on duty as we are not taking any chances,” he said yesterday.

Mohamad Fuzi said the police, especially the Counter Terrorism Division, were working to ensure that any terror threat is thwarted.

“Terror threats must not be taken lightly and must never be underestimated,” he added.

Recently, the Counter Terrorism Division thwarted a plot to attack the closing of the SEA Games at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil and the National Day celebrations in Dataran Merdeka with the arrest of 15 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants in the Klang Valley.

Mohamad Fuzi said the ASG militants were among 41 foreign militants detained this year.

Sepang deputy OCPD Supt Baharudin Mat Taib said more than 1,000 security personnel, including from other agencies, would be deployed round-the-clock during the grand prix weekend.

“We have 64 officers and 613 personnel on duty,” he told reporters at the circuit yesterday.

He added that an operations centre would be set up at the circuit.

Supt Baharudin said there were about 100,000 parking bays available as well as 40 shuttle buses to ferry fans from the bays to various parts of the circuit.

Vehicles parked outside the designated parking areas would be towed to the Sepang police headquarters, he added.