Operators of automated teller machines (ATM) need to improve safety features of their ATM machines to avoid from being prey to criminals, according to the Malaysian Electronic Payment System (MEPS) Sdn Bhd.

Its Managing Director Zulkarnain Kassim said, among the improvements include ensuring that the safe in the machine is sturdy and not easily broken into.

"There are various types of safe quality, some are easily broken into and some are not. There are instances where torches are used to hack open the safe, whereas some take half an hour to be broken into."

"These features need to be heeded," he told Bernama after attending the 2016 ATM South East Asia Conference which was held recently.

However, Zulkarnain also stressed that there is not much machine operators can do when faced with criminals using explosives to pry open ATM machines, as was the case in Jitra recently.

Early in the morning of April 26, criminals used two bombs to explode ATM machines at Jitra 1 and ran off with around RM300,000 in cash.

This occurred following another similar case at Simpang Kuala, Alor Setar, last February in which the ATM machine had also been exploded before the criminals escaped with a cash loot of about RM300,000.

According to Zulkarnain, the criminals targeted the cash in the ATM safe, and as such it is important to ensure that the ATM is strong enough to prevent any attempt to open it.

Another security measure is to have a more secured bolting of ATMs to the floor to prevent criminals from easily removing the machines.

"When these ATM machines are bolted securely to the floor, these criminals will find it hard to move them. Thus, we need to do these extra measures," he said.

He remarked, Bank Negara Malaysia had also produced a guideline on the improvement of safety features of ATM machines last year, and banks should comply with the guidelines.