KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management (PPK) has urged the police to conduct security audit to verify the level of safety at shopping malls.

Its president, H.C. Chan, said although they agreed with the implementation of the Car Park League Table (CPLT) programme, the association also wanted regular meetings between the police and the respective shopping malls to arrive at the best method of improving safety at their car parks.

"In the final analysis, crime is the result of a mix of socio-economical and political factors which need to be addressed by the government and authorities at a more strategic level, and statistically, the shopping mall is much more safer than outside or in the street," he told Bernama here today.

He said the CPLT alone, was insufficient to ensure the safety of shoppers, and PPK would like to encourage the police department to work together, with the malls to ensure the safety of patrons.

Chan was commenting on the government's new proposal to implement the CPLT programme to recognise efforts by shopping mall operators who emphasised on safety at their car parks.

The programme, to be carried out soon, will recognise car parks based on the crime rate and evaluated on security in the area, lighting, panic button, and safety equipment, with priority given to big and renowned shopping malls first.

Chan said, with such an encouraging growth, shopping mall operators placed a very high level of priority to shoppers' safety and security, not only because it was in their interest to have sustainable high patronage, but also because they were the biggest beneficiaries or losers when visitorship goes up or down.

In fact, most of the malls had already implemented good basic up-to-date security systems reflecting such priority, he noted.

Formed in 1984, PPK takes a predominant role in the shopping and highrise management discipline.

According to the home ministry, the programme would only be held after a meeting involving representatives of the six National Key Result Areas and other organisations such as the Town and Country Planning Department, police and Prime Minister's Department's Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).