KUALA LUMPUR: A portion of a ceiling on the second floor balcony of the Putra World Trade Centre collapsed during an army demonstration, injuring two army officers. The two men suffered injuries on their head and body and were rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment after the 5pm incident yesterday. Their condition was reported to be stable. There were no other casualties. Firemen checked the safety of the building after the incident. The demonstration, held as the grand finale to the four-day Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition at the PWTC, involved the firing of high-powered weapons and bombs outside the building. Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue deputy director Azizan Ismail said the live demonstration had caused the collapse. “We will work with the PWTC staff to ascertain safety features within the building,” he said. Meanwhile, Malaysia will push for Asean nations to relook at their capabilities on military and civil aviation security when it assumes the chair of the 10-member bloc next year. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysia’s chairmanship would also be a good opportunity to look at the capabilities of the Asean countries’ civil aviation. “I think it is a great opportunity to look at the Asean capability not just militarily but also on the civil aviation side for a more constructive, effective and cost saving way to look at future threats,” he told a press conference after closing the DSA defence and security event. Linking it with the MH370 crisis, Hishammuddin said the incident has shown cooperation among countries. Hishammuddin said DSA was an opportunity to look at Malaysia’s own defence strengths and weaknesses. “We do not need completely new equipment, we have got some upgrades. Basically, at the end of the day we have to leave it to the air force to advise me what is the best way to upgrade and whatever we have disclosed because of the MH370 incident can be overcome,” he added. The Star
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