After pilot drug case, minister cites 'persistent culture of denial' over airport security

 

Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said he had repeatedly told Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) about drug trafficking cases departing from Malaysia to Taiwan.

While commenting on the recent case of a Malaysian pilot arrested in Indonesia for drug trafficking, the Bintulu MP said he consistently raised the issue since his appointment as the prime minister's special envoy to East Asia in 2014.

"On each occasion, I highlighted vulnerabilities relating to airport security, border controls, drug trafficking risks, and the operational readiness of front-line personnel.

"I urged the relevant authorities to review these weaknesses and implement meaningful improvements.

“What followed was a persistent culture of denial," he lamented in a statement today.

Discourse on airport security has heightened after two Malaysians were arrested in Indonesia in separate drug trafficking cases.

One of the suspects is a Malaysia Airlines pilot who was detained for possession of over 70,000 ecstasy pills and 2.7g of methamphetamine, while the other is a 22-year-old who was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 990g of methamphetamine and 1,089 ecstasy pills.

Malaysian and Indonesian authorities are widening the scope of investigations to probe possible links to a cross-border syndicate.

The detained pilot was found with over 70,000 ecstasy pills

On Monday, Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Shuhaily Zain said the pilot had passed all security screenings at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before boarding the Jakarta-bound plane with 170 passengers.

Manpower issues

Commenting further, Tiong said he had broached the topic of manpower issues for the past three years.

However, he said MAHB only acknowledged yesterday - at a meeting he attended with MCBA, the Aviation Security Division, and the officer-in-charge of the KLIA district police headquarters - that certain positions have been left uncovered when staff take sick leave.

Although Tiong said this admission strengthened arguments that concerns over manpower shortages were legitimate, he stressed that this could not be the sole cause of major security breaches.

"The meeting called for an immediate reassessment of airport security protocols, tighter border screening procedures, and stronger coordination among enforcement agencies to close existing security gaps and reinforce protection at the country's international gateways.

"Following the earlier cabinet meeting, which agreed to review airport security arrangements, including the role of auxiliary police and the wider involvement of the Royal Malaysia Police within the airport security framework, I fully support the government's decision," he added.

Tiong said the meeting had also highlighted the need for cross-agency support to enhance border control measures, particularly via cooperation between the police, MCBA, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, and other relevant enforcement authorities.

Yesterday, Bernama reported Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Hussein Omar Khan as saying that his department will send a team of investigators and officers to Jakarta next week to gather information in the pilot's case. - Mkini