People have expressed concern and worry over the possible threats of terrorist attacks at several hotspot areas though they also admitted there is very little they can do.

Last Sunday, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that several hotspots have been identified as potential targets of terrorist attacks, namely Bukit Bintang, Bangsar, Hartamas, The Curve, Solaris, Publika and KL Tower.

However, police have said that they did not release any statements specifying the locations for possible terrorist attacks.

Malaysiakini spoke to people frequenting and working at Publika and Solaris to understand what they thought about this revelation.

"Life still has to go on," Kong Chee Kee, a cafe manager at Solaris, said when asked about his reaction to the possible threat of terror attacks.

They have to keep a positive mindset, he said, adding that this is what he had also advised the people working in his cafe.

However, he admitted that sales have gone down since news of the threat was reported, though he does not know for sure if the decreased sales can be attributed to the news.

Business down

Similarly at Publika, restaurant supervisor Abdullah al-Mahmoud said business has slowed down since last Sunday.

"It's very quiet now. Now, there are only a few customers and usually they are people who work here," he said.

He explained that he has been working there for a very long time, but since he heard the news, he felt "nervous and scared".

"I have stopped going to the other areas. I work here, so I have no choice," he lamented.

Despite that, he said he has already informed the Publika management and the police that if he sees anything suspicious, he will report it to them.

Aaron Choi, who works with children with learning disabilities at Publika, said that they have received a written statement from the Publika management on reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

"They have (also) stepped up the security here. There are more than usual (police personnel)," he said.

Especially because he works with children, he hoped there will be a discussion with his co-workers on how to keep people safe if there was an attack.

Surprisingly, he said that none of the parents have approached them with concerns about safety.

"None of the parents have come up to us and shown any worry. I think they are not too alarmed about it and it's important that we keep calm and not instigate things as well," he said.

More conscious about going out

Meanwhile, Zeyad Akil, who operates a flea market booth at Publika, expressed sadness over the recent news.

"For me, it feels very sad that they target this country. This is my favourite place. I always like to come here. (But now) this is a targeted area so it's very scary actually," he said.

Even among his friends, he said, they have been more conscious about going out.

Over in Solaris, Nurul Ain, an office worker there, said she has felt very scared to come to work after she heard about the possible threats.

"I used to move around freely, but now when I go out, I avoid places with a lot of people," she said, adding that she has completely stopped going to the other hotspot areas.

She has even briefly considered looking for a job elsewhere, she said.

Though Hussein Tuah, a retiree, seldom comes to Solaris, he said he is still worried.

"What if we're just walking and suddenly a bomb goes off? We will be done for.

"(But) if you're caught up in the attack, you are caught up in it. How do you avoid something like this? Nobody knows. Only God knows," he said.

In the wake of the Sarinah bombing in Jakarta last week, authorities have stepped up security in Malaysia, with a man being arrested last Friday who was suspected of having links to the Islamic State (IS).