Gun pointed at you, what will you do?

 by  P Ramani on Free Malaysia Today
August 15, 2013

Security experts provide various suggestions but it will depend on how we react and manage the risk.

PETALING JAYA: What would your reaction be if a gun was aimed at you? Most would say they will panic and freeze. Others who are daring will try to pull Hollywood stunts to evade and make an escape.

Those with martial arts background may retaliate with gun disarming techniques. The worst that could happen is get shot and killed!

Security experts however, feel that the best defense is to be vigilant at all times when you are out of your house.

“Make a habit of being vigilant at all times and this helps especially when a victim receives constant threat from unknown person,” said DKS Security CEO Sirajudin Y Mohd Maidin.

The security expert went further to explain by illustrating the ‘Crime Triangle’ elements, namely Opportunity, Ability and Desire.

He says that ‘opportunity’ element can be controlled where else the other two elements are not possible to control.

“For example, when you park your car outside your house, there is a tendency for car hijackers to steal the car and it’s exposed for an opportunity for crime to take place,” he said.

Sirajudin also stated that the ‘ability’ element refers to the skills and gadgets used by criminals to carry out an activity and the ‘desire’ element refers to the greed and intention to commit a crime.

“Risk is all around us. But one has to take the precautionary measures to handle any adverse situation,” he added

Looking into the pattern of shootings and killings lately, he suggested that a video recorder be installed in the car as it can help as a deterrent.

“The video recorder will be able to record any movement adjacent to the car. It can be purchased within RM150,” said the security expert.

For those in the high risk group such as VIPs, businessmen and goldsmiths, he suggests to hire personal bodyguards experienced with close protection techniques and drivers with defensive as well as offensive driving techniques.

Bullet proof vest

Meanwhile, another security expert and CEO of Golden Eagle Security K Manogharan stated that it was not easy at times to sense and identify your threat.

“When someone is getting a threat or involved in high risk business, they should hire a personal bodyguard to protect them,” he said

He also added that if a person was under heavy threat and risk, he should minimise appearing in public until he feels safe to resume usual activity.

Lion Sun Security partner Nor Rafeah Abd Sani also added that perhaps it’s time for businessmen or high risk professionals to wear bullet proof vest and fix bullet proof car screen to minimise risk.

Nevertheless, a former senior commando said that public should not panic with the recent shooting incidents.

“Nobody is going to go around shooting people at will, unless you are in the target group (hit list) where someone has a score to settle with you,” said the former commando.

But he does agree that people should be more vigilant and be wary of bikers with full faced helmets as 90% of shootings are carried out using this modus operandi.

“And if you are on the run, do not do so in a straight line but rather zig-zag between pillars, static vehicles or other objects,” he added.

In contrast, MVD International Managing Consultant for Security and Investigation and former Klang OCPD Aziz Ariarasa Abdullah stated that shooting a victim in public is a tricky situation.

“Someone can even shoot from behind and it’s difficult to escape from gun shots,” said Aziz.

“The most important factor is to look into the past history of victims. And the police should conduct a thorough investigation to resolve these cases,” said Aziz.