Two female staff members had a shock in Komtar yesterday after a couple of ‘Peeping Toms’ with digital cameras tried to zoom in on them through the lower opening of the respective toilet cubicle doors.

The incidents occurred on the 30th floor of the Komtar administration block between 10.15am and 10.30pm.

In one incident, the female staff member was shocked to discover a hand holding a camera pointing towards her from the lower opening of the toilet hall’s door.

NONE She screamed and quickly arranged her clothes before rushing out to chase the suspects, but failed to catch up with them.

Responding on the matter, state secretary Farizan Darus ( left ) denied that there were hidden cameras in the toilets, adding that the female staff member had reported the incident to her supervisor.

Farizan added that the State Secretariat Unit was then informed about the incident, and statements were taken from the two women, who were victims in two separate incidents.

“The victims had heard the ‘zoom’ camera sound,” he told a press conference, accompanied by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Based on the investigations carried out by the security team, it is believed that two suspects, a man and woman in their 20s, had entered into the administration tower,” he added.

“However, they did not have any dealings with the Welfare Department office located on the same floor,” he stressed.

Staff in Komtar advised to be careful

Farizan said the administration views the matter seriously and had advised the staff in Komtar to be cautious.

He added that no police report had been lodged over the matter but the department was speaking to the Penang Development Corporation to step up security in Komtar, especially around the toilet areas.

When asked, Farizan said CCTVs were placed on most floors, and the department was considering whether to add more such units.