Bomb blast in Bukit Bintang, KL, today

There was a bomb blast in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur this morning.

See more on The Star and NST

IMO it is not sensible to stay in the Bukit Bintang area of KL, due to the threat posed by organised gangs targeting foreigners for their passports - I have posted about this before. Chinatown is a much better bet.

Update, it wasn't a bomb, but 2 grenades. 1 person died and 12 were injured.

Bukit BIntang doesn't look that dangerous. Besides, usually when in KL I don't carry the passport with me when I'm out of the hotel.

Bukit BIntang doesn't look that dangerous
How does a place look dangerous?!!!

There are definitely lots of Chinese gangs operating in the area (the back streets and running the clubs etc) but that has nothing to do with tourism. Things that do affect tourists are the snatch thefts and pickpockets.

Things that do affect tourists are the snatch thefts and pickpockets.

How often do these things happen? Never happened to me in 15 years of travelling to Malaysia.

This post has been removed by its author.

alfredm wrote:
"Bukit BIntang doesn't look that dangerous."
"Never happened to me in 15 years of travelling to Malaysia."

looks can be deceiving.
just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean the crime doesn't exist.

stupidtourist wrote:

just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean the crime doesn't exist.

And I never claimed that.

But writing "it is not sensible to stay in the Bukit Bintang area of KL" is nonsense.

Things that do affect tourists are the snatch thefts and pickpockets.
How often do these things happen?

Very very often. Crime is definitely on the increase. Although probably affects locals more than tourists , as the thieves tend to operate in the suburbs and housing areas. Snatch thefts are a huge problem (of bags and jewellery) and also snatches from cars when stopped at traffic lights, junctions. Many people don't bother to make a police report as it is a waste of time.

I've seen pickpockets operating on the free buses around Bukit Bintang, when people are pushing to get on the bus.

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?

Well Neil has not come back to answer my question. Now who was it who the Australian Consular officials advise to leave the country? Was it his son and whoever and, if it was, then why? Surely you don't ask people to leave the country after someone has tried to break into their room unless there is a really good reason!! So did Neil's son and whoever do something wrong that the gang tried to break into their room? I wonder if we will find out!!

Well I'm not really sure why I'm responding when I'm repeating what I've already said, but here goes.
It was my two sons. It was because a gang had tried to break into their room, the CCTV cameras were down and the police were unresponsive. Consular officials were not surprised at the story and suggested they leave.
Of course they didn't "do something wrong that the gang tried to break into their room".
Your suggestion is offensive and this will be my last contribution to this thread.

Well thanks for clearing that up Neil. It is strange - and you must agree a small bit - that when someone tries to break in your sons room and the Australian Consular officials advise your son to leave the country immediately, then there must be some suspicion there. It just didn't sound right! And the Consular officials not only advised them to leave - but to leave the country!!

Someone tried to rob them,and the police advised them to leave the country? Your sons had no idea who this 'gang' was? Or why they were trying to break in?

Never heard of that one before,in Malaysia or anywhere else.......

Can't you read? It was consular officials. Geez!!!

Sorry,i meant officials,not police.

Still..very,very strange story.I'd be interested to know if the Aussie consulate follows the same procedures with all victims of crime..not just in Malaysia.

If my consular officials told me to leave the country over an incident that was nothing to do with me...well,the response wouldn't be very polite for sure!

Surely Lucapal, everyone who has anyone try and break into their room would always go to see the Australian Consular officials and then be told to get out of the country immediately!!!...Surely that is just normal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, a very strange story!!

Leave the country ??? a bit like taking a sledgehammer to a walnut response. And they actually left ????

Nothing would put me off eating in Jalan Alor - love the place.

I am now staying in Bukit Binting-staying in Jalan Alor. Just arrived.

The advice from hotel manager was don't let your beer out of sight in case friendly girl drops something in it! Apart from that he said no problems!

I'm jealous, really really jealous. Have a great time !

I enjoyed my short stay in Bukit Bintang recently but I did feel a dangerous 'edge' to the area there for the unwary. Maybe it was the many unsavoury looking characters hanging around McDonalds/coffee shops/internet places or the 'friendly ladies' who were approaching me. I think the advice a hotel manager gave Raki Man (post 28) was spot on.
I'm not saying it's outright dangerous but just to be wary, probably similar to many other tourists locales around the world.

Thanks rufus, and remember, if anyone tries to break into your room then leave the country immediately!