Go to nearest police station, IGP tells MH741 passengers

The Langkawi airport where Malaysia Airlines flight MH741 from Yangon, Myanmar, was forced to land yesterday with most passengers not clearing immigration. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 16, 2015.Police are asking passengers, who were on board the detoured Malaysia Airlines flight MH741 on December 12, and have not gone through proper immigration checks, to report immediately to the police.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said those on the flight, from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur, that was detoured to Langkawi due to bad weather, were advised to present themselves at the nearest police station.

“I ask for those who have not gone through the legitimate channels to immediately go to their nearest police station.

"We will help Immigration in this matter and they can come, inform us that they have come into the country without stamping their passport and we will help them,” he said.

Khalid said police viewed the incident as very serious and officials from Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) need to work together with the Immigration Department and police to ensure all passengers go through the proper procedure.

“Despite the flight making an unplanned landing, due to bad weather conditions, it is not an excuse. Police, together with the Immigration Department will track those who did not go through the legitimate channels,” he said.

Khalid said that MAHB should review its standard operating procedures in similar situations, as the incident was “a clear breach of security”.

“Everyone, citizens or non-citizens that come into this country need to go through the proper legitimate channels,” he said.

It was reported that a warning was issued to Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for failing to observe procedures requiring passengers on its international flight to go through immigration checks on arrival in the country.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed had said that he was informed by Immigration authorities that only 32 of the 135 passengers, including Malaysians, went for the immigration check after arriving at the Langkawi International Airport.

"We understand the aircraft had to detour to Langkawi, but when in Langkawi, procedures required passengers on international flight to be processed, like stamping of their passport, but this was not observed.

"Subsequently, the aircraft flew to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on a domestic flight, and from there, the passengers entered the country as domestic passengers,” he had said.

- TMI