Business as usual: No bombs found in Southkey mall, says Johor MB

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has reassured the public that the shopping mall and hotel in Southkey here is safe as police have conducted the due diligence and found no suspicious objects linked to Saturday’s (Oct 14) bomb threat incident.

Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said he went to the ground to observe the situation and got the latest information from Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat on Sunday (Oct 15).

“According to him, the situation at the mall and hotel is safe and under control for the public to visit.

“The whole area has been swept by the police’s bomb and K-9 units. Thankfully no suspicious objects were found and the place has been deemed safe to operate as usual,” he said on his Facebook page after visiting the mall.

Onn Hafiz thanked the authorities including the police as well as the Fire and Rescue Department for managing the situation well and keeping the public safe.

A check by The Star showed that as of noon on Sunday, many people were seen visiting the mall to shop and dine while businesses operated as usual.

Many Singapore-registered cars were also seen entering the mall parking lot as it is a popular place for locals and tourists.

The incident unfolded on Saturday when the management of the mall and hotel received a phone call, believed to be from a foreign man at 6.10pm, claiming that he placed a bomb around the building.

After receiving the mall’s report, the police deployed 92 officers and policemen to the location five minutes later, including two K-9 units, as well as the Fire and Rescue Department.

The case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation by anonymous communication, which provides imprisonment for up to seven years upon conviction.

Several videos made rounds on social media showing throngs of people rushing to evacuate the mall while the sound of an alarm could be heard in the background.

Hundreds of people were seen standing outside the premises as they could not get to their vehicles while the authorities swept the place.