Bomb blast in Bukit Bintang, KL, today

My sentiments as well @8. With numerous visits to KL staying in BB, Brickfields, Chinatown areas I was pickpocketed only once and that was partly my fault. Other problems I've encountered were taxis refusing to use the meters and overcharging at Jalan Alor food street. Those things that happened to me are very minor incidents.

Bugger- I was planning to eat at Jalan Alor food street next month!

I haven't eaten for a while in Jalan Alor but I remember that prices are quite low anyway. To avoid being overcharged, go there with a local or with somebody who knows the prices.

I don't stay in Bukit Bintang (because I don't like it,not because of safety)...but a random 'terrorist' attack is no reason to avoid an entire city,or even an entire area.IMHO.

Neither is the fact that ''you might be pickpocketed'.If you know what you are doing (for example,you wear a moneybelt under your clothes,and carry nothing of value in your pockets)then you don't have to worry about pickpockets either......

BTW I have been to Malaysia numerous times and never been a victim of crime.Of course,I don't carry lots of cash in my pocket,I don't wear jewellery or carry a designer bag.

Other people can make themselves an easy target,if they want to.......

I don't carry lots of cash in my pocket

Now I have a bank card which charges no fees for cash withdrawals. But previously I was using one which was charging a steep 6.50 Euro per withdrawal. To minimise these fees I used to make few withdrawals of large amounts of cash.
I used to walk in the evenings to a bank near Bukit Bintang where I would withdraw RM 2000 each time (the maximum I could get with one withdrawal), then walk back to the hotel. Nothing ever happened, but my wife was always telling me not go out at night with large amounts of cash...

I withdraw money from ATMs of course (even large amounts)..but I do it in the daytime,and i put it in a moneybelt,under my clothes.

No-one is going to pickpocket it from there.....

I didn't make my initial comment on Bukit Bintang merely because of the so-called bomb blast, but because of my personal knowledge of a number of incidents in the area, including a gang trying to enter my sons' room (they were in their 20's) at the Radius International, CCTV being conveniently inoperable at the time. Australian consular officials advised them to leave the country immediately.

Obviously it doesn't happen to everybody, but when it does happen in KL it happens more often in Bukit Bintang than other parts of the city. That's why I recommend staying elsewhere.

Mmmmmmm....well I have been there at least four times over the past three years and have never felt any cause for concern. I suppose I don't go down dark streets and staying in well lit areas probably helps.
How long has this been going on? There are probably gangs in every town in the world but not all use hand grenades!! What would be the use of blowing someone up if they didn't want to give you their passport?
I have heard reports of people being robbed etcetera in a few towns around the world that I have been in, however it has usually been because they have not taken precautions to prevent it - I mean if you have a handbag or a camera hanging loosely over your shoulder then you could get targeted!

Did the Australian consular officials advise the gang to leave the country immediately?