KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — Local security agencies were tasked today with ensuring the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF9) takes place without issue here next week.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today that security is a priority for the forum which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, from Feb 7.
About 25,000 participants from 194 countries are expected to attend the event.
“We will not take security lightly when it is Malaysia who is hosting an international conference here, where about half of them are international delegates.
“That is why all the risks need to be eliminated to achieve the target of zero incidents during the forum,” said Zahid, who is also home minister.
Security measures will begin from when delegates arrive and extend the entire duration of their visit here, he said.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking after witnessing a multi-agency security drill, organised by the National Security Council (NSC), conducted at the convention centre this morning in preparation of the forum.
The drill was also attended by Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, and NSC director-general Tan Sri Zulkefli Mohd Zin.
About 200 personnel from the police, military, fire and rescue department, Health Ministry, and operatives from the National Special Operations Force took part in the hour-long drill.
The drill scenarios included a protest and the safe extraction of VIPS at the event.
The forum, hosted in a different city once biennially, examines the most pressing issues faced globally of the day.
Before Kuala Lumpur, other hosts included Naples, Rio de Janeiro, Nanjing, Barcelona, and Nairobi.
