People were shouting and running into the hotel from the mall when the shooter started firing. It was loud and there was a lot of screaming. We were all sitting at the hotel lobby at that time.
We carried the kids/family to safety, running to the basement with my team, and 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 were the gunshots we heard. We didn't have any other information and had to be ready for anything.
I still have images of me telling my kids, "everything is going to be okay. Babah and Mama are here" and telling them to get down while waiting for the car.
My security team and I stood in front of my family, creating a human shield to protect them at all cost. The idea was to get the family and my team out of there. My wife hugged all our kids, staying low and trying to calm them because they were terrified and were crying.
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. 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.
Once it is safe, we will go to the airport and fly back to Johor. Sadly, I missed the JDT game but I’m glad my family and our team are safe. This is the worst experience I’ve ever gone through. Protecting the lives of my children from a killer. 2 people died. May God bless their innocent souls.
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.
Ismail Ibrahim, Crown Prince of Johor
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The JDT team owner was in Bangkok for the Asian Champions League (ACL) which saw JDT record its first Group I win by taming BG Pathum United 4-2 on Tuesday.
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Orang ramai menjerit dan berlari masuk ke dalam hotel dari pusat membeli-belah apabila penembak mula melepaskan tembakan. Ia sangat bising dan terdapat begitu banyak jeritan. Kami semua sedang duduk di lobi hotel ketika itu.
Kami membawa kanak-kanak/keluarga ke tempat yang selamat, berlari ke ruang bawah tanah bersama pasukan saya, dan fikiran saya tertumpu kepada berapa ramai penembak di luar sana, apa senjata yang mereka gunakan dan apa situasinya.
Kami perlu berjaga-jaga dan bersedia untuk sebarang kemungkinan kerana yang kami tahu ketika itu hanyalah bunyi tembakan yang kedengaran. Kami tidak mempunyai maklumat lain dan perlu bersedia untuk apa-apa perkara yang boleh berlaku.
Saya masih terbayang waktu saya memberitahu anak-anak saya, "semuanya akan kembali okay. Babah dan Mama ada di sini" dan menyuruh mereka tunduk sementara menunggu kenderaan tiba.
Saya dan pasukan keselamatan kami berdiri di hadapan keluarga saya, membina perisai manusia untuk melindungi mereka walau apa pun berlaku. Apa yang difikiran saya adalah untuk membawa keluarga dan pasukan saya keluar dari tempat itu. Isteri saya memeluk anak-anak kami, menundukkan diri dan cuba menenangkan mereka kerana mereka ketakutan dan menangis.
Saya menjerit sekuat hati kepada pasukan keselamatan kami untuk membawa kereta ke ruang bawah tanah dan membawa kami ke lokasi yang selamat jauh dari tempat tersebut. Saya memberitahu mereka untuk membawa kami ke Kedutaan Malaysia, dan pemandu memberitahu kami Kedutaan Singapura lebih dekat dan ketika itu saya menghubungi Konsul Jeneral Singapura di Johor.
Kini kami selamat berada di Kedutaan. Saya menghubungi Perdana Menteri Malaysia dan Menteri Pertahanan kita untuk memaklumkan apa yang berlaku. Duta Besar Malaysia turut ada bersama kami.
Setelah semuanya selamat, kami akan ke lapangan terbang dan terbang pulang ke Johor. Malangnya, saya terlepas perlawanan JDT tetapi saya bersyukur keluarga saya dan pasukan kami selamat. Ini adalah pengalaman terburuk yang pernah saya lalui. Melindungi nyawa anak-anak saya daripada pembunuh. 2 orang meninggal dunia. Semoga Allah merahmati roh mereka yang tidak berdosa.
Alhamdulillah, kami selamat. Terima kasih kepada pasukan keselamatan saya dan rakan-rakan kami dari Singapura dan Malaysia. Saya akan selamanya berterima kasih kepada anda semua.
Ismail Ibrahim, Tunku Mahkota Johor
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