VAT 69 Commandos hold special training session to boost counter terrorism capablities

BATU GAJAH, July 19 (Bernama) -- A special Counter Terrorist Team in-service training involving the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) VAT 69 Commando special forces team was held to boost the team’s capabilities and techniques to take on terrorist threats in public areas such as airports and train stations.

Around 60 VAT 69 Commandos officers and personnel, including seven land and air assets, participated in the training that was held at the Akademi Keretapi Malaysia (MyRa) here yesterday, with the assistance of the Batu Gajah district police headquarters and Myra staff.

VAT 69 Commando unit commander SAC Datuk Abdul Razak Mohd Yusoff said the training was held to boost skills in the team’s assignment over decisions that needed to be taken when facing terrorist threats in actual operations.

"When we launch an attack against terrorists, we will coordinate plans and action plans that need to be taken while considering the strengths and weaknesses of both the team and the enemy.

"We need to get used to and be ready for any operation involving the public, including airports or train stations that might be the focus or target of terrorists,” he told reporters after the training session here.

Batu Gajah district police chief ACP Mohamad Roy Suhaimi Sarif, MyRA chief James Warren and Electric Train Service (ETS) Batu Gajah depot senior manager Zuraime Mohamad were also present to witness the training session.

During the training, a terrorist group known as 'Arung Palakka' had kidnapped a dignitary and his personal driver at a petrol station in Batu Gajah before escaping with them on a Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad ETS train.

Several KTMB staff and members of the public were also taken hostage by the terrorist group.

Following the incident, the VAT 69 Commando commander instructed Bravo squadron to rescue the hostages and neutralised the terrorists in the area.

-- BERNAMA