TUNKU Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim took to Facebook today to share on his harrowing experience in Bangkok where a deadly shooting took place yesterday.

The crown prince and his family were at a lobby of a hotel near Siam Paragon mall when the incident occurred.

“People were shouting and running into the hotel from the mall when the shooter started firing,” said Tunku Ismail.

“It was loud and there was a lot of screaming. We were all sitting at the hotel lobby at the time.

“The only thing on my mind was how many shooters were there, what weapons they had and what was the situation.

“We had to be on alert and be prepared for any circumstance because all we knew at that point was the gunshots we heard. We didn’t have any other information and had to be ready for anything.”

It is learnt that Tunku Ismail was in Thailand for Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) football match.

Tunku Ismail said he and his security team managed to get to the Singaporean Embassy and notified Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan about the situation.

“I was shouting at the top of my voice to our security to get the car to the basement and get us to a secure location away from the place,” he said.

“I told them to get us to the Malaysian Embassy, but the driver told us the Singapore Embassy was nearer and that was when I contacted the Singapore consul-general in Johor.

“Now we’re here safe in the embassy. I called the Malaysian PM and our defence minister to inform them what was happening. The Malaysian ambassador is also with us.

“Alhamdulillah, we’re safe. Thanks to my security team and our friends from Singapore and Malaysia. I will forever be grateful to all of you,” the JDT football club owner said.

It was reported yesterday that two people died and five others wounded in the mall shooting. Initial reports, however, had it at three dead.

According to reports from local media, a 14-year-old suspect has been apprehended for discharging a firearm inside the mall.

Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand Jojie Samuel later confirmed that no Malaysians were involved in the shooting incident. – October 4, 2023.