Hotels, malls still on alert

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Security in Jakarta's hotels and shopping centers remains on full alert amid concerns of possible retaliatory attacks following the death of fugitive terrorist Azahari bin Husin in Batu, Malang, East Java, on Wednesday.

"We are maintaining tight security around the hotel as usual," the JW Marriott Hotel's public relations manager Mellani Solagratia told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

She said that the hotel -- located in the Mega Kuningan business district in South Jakarta -- always cooperated fully with the Mega Kuningan business district's security management, as well as the city police.

Based on the Post's own observations, a number of hotels, such as the Shangri-La, Sari Pan Pacific and Aryaduta, all in Central Jakarta, have deployed at least 10 security guards each to check incoming vehicles at the entry points to the hotels.

Similar security measures were also seen at the entrances to office buildings, including the Landmark office complex in Setiabudi, South Jakarta, BII Tower on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta, and Wisma BNI 46 in Karet, Central Jakarta, where three security guards were searching all incoming vehicles.

Meanwhile, security at shopping centers in the capital has been on full alert ever since the second Bali bombings on Oct. 1.

"We have tightened security at the mall ever since the last attacks in Bali," Taman Anggrek Mall's public relations and communications executive, Yunny Christine, said.

She said that besides the usual screening of vehicles and visitors' belongings, the mall has also assigned its housekeeping staff to regularly check the contents of trash cans.

"We also provide only one entrance for employees and tenants so that we can maintain security," Yunny said.

The Jakarta Police earlier said that the red alert in the city would continue until after the New Year.