PETALING JAYA – “People were screaming and running into the hotel from the shopping mall as the shooter began firing.
“It was extremely noisy and everyone was screaming. We were in the hotel lobby at that time.”
This is the personal account of Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who was with his family at a hotel near Bangkok’s Siam Paragon Mall where a deadly shooting took place yesterday.
“We took the children and the family to a safe place and ran to an underground space with my team.
“My focus was on how many shooters were actually out there, what firearms they were using and how bad the situation was,” the Johor crown prince said in a Facebook post.
He said they were prepared for anything as they heard gunshots.
“We had no information as to what was happening and were prepared for anything,” he said.
He said he remembers telling his children that everything will be okay.
“Babah and Mama are here,” he reassured them as he asked them to lie low and wait for their vehicle to arrive.
He said he and his safety team were standing in front of his family, forming a human shield to protect them no matter what happens.
“I was only thinking about getting my family and my team out of the place. My wife was hugging the children and trying to calm them down. The kids were scared and crying,” he said.
He said he then called out to his security team to get them to a safe location, far from the shooting incident.
“I told them to take us to the Malaysian Embassy, and the driver informed me that the Singapore Embassy in Thailand was nearer and I then contacted the Singapore consul-general in Johor for assistance.
Thankfully, we are now safe at the embassy, he said.
“I called the Malaysian prime minister and our defence minister to inform them what was happening. The Malaysian ambassador (to Thailand) is also with us.
“Once it is safe, we will go to the airport and fly back to Johor.
“Sadly, I missed the JDT game, but I'm glad my family and our team are safe,” he said, adding that it was the worst experience he had ever been through.
“Protecting my children from a killer. Two people died. May God bless their innocent souls. Alhamdulillah, we’re safe.
“Thanks to my security team and our friends from Singapore and Malaysia. I will forever be grateful to all of you,” he said.
Around 3.30am today, he updated X that the family had safely returned to Johor.
It was reported that there were no Malaysians involved in the shooting at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon Mall, which killed two individuals and injured five others.
Malaysia’s ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Jojie Samuel, said the embassy is monitoring the situation closely.
“The embassy is monitoring the situation closely. Malaysians affected by the incident may seek assistance by contacting the embassy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thai police confirmed that two individuals – a Chinese national and a Myanmar national – died in the tragedy. – The Vibes, October 4, 2023
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