Masked men rob National Library cafetaria

Borrowing books for reference was the last thing on the mind of two men who they headed to the National Library in Jalan Tun Razak here on Friday afternoon.

Instead, they strode into the library's cafeteria, robbed its operator of RM3,000, among others, and fled, thereby creating a 'record' of sorts.

It was the first time that robbers had struck at the library building.

Earlier, the robbers donning masks, clad in blue jackets and wearing red helmets, whipped out a machete as they entered the cafeteria.

In the incident about 1.30pm, the duo confronted cafeteria operator Mahsuri Hassan who was busy preparing some documents to begin her business for the day.

Threatening her with the machete, they demanded for a bracelet and necklace which she was wearing, and proceeded to snatch them.

When Mahsuri, 50, refused and screamed for help, one of them took the cash register and emptied it of RM3,000, mobile phone and cheques before fleeing from the cafeteria.

"Only 10 customers and a female worker were present during the robbery which occurred during Friday prayers," she told Bernama.

She said a report was lodged at the Tun Razak police station about 2pm.

Mahsuri has been operating the cafeteria business over the past three years.

Meanwhile, National Library director-general Datuk Raslin Abu Bakar said it was the first time that a robbery had occurred in the building.