AMPANG: A  check on security measures employed by the Tesco hypermarket here on Monday left the Pandan Women Coalition (PWC) disappointed.

“We are disappointed Tesco did not take action. It has been one month since we submitted our memorandum,” said PWC representative Basmatul’uyun Yusof.

The coalition handed a memorandum to Tesco officials on July 20 after a female shopper was injured in an assault at the store’s parking lot on July 3.

Iskandar (right) meeting a police officer in a mobile police station at the parking lot of Tesco Ampang.

They called for better security at the hypermarket and for at least 50 parking lots near the entrance to be designated specially for women, by marking them with a “W”.

“Since then, I’ve come here several times already and still hardly see any guards around,” Basmatul’uyun said.

There has also been no designated women-only parking, with only a few lots allocated near the entrance for mothers and small children.

However, she added that since the memorandum was submitted, she had not heard of any new criminal cases at the hypermarket.

Also present was Cempaka assemblyperson Iskandar Samad, who spoke to Tesco’s government relations manager Mohd Elias Ismail.

“They said they have three guards. But I feel it is still not enough,” Iskandar said.

Iskandar, who is also a state executive councillor, was shown a patrol bicycle and buggy by Tesco security staff during the visit.

He said the mobile police station, a van parked at the parking lot with police officers in it, now operated from 7am to 11pm, an extension from 5pm.

“The local councils must take action. It is their right to instruct supermarkets to provide (women-only parking),” Iskandar said.

State executive councillor Rodziah Ismail had said  on July 25  that local governments were instructed by the state to enact by-laws to compel shopping complexes and supermarkets to put in place better security features. Among the features are women-only parking to ensure the safety of women .