Home Ministry enforces full checks on passengers, baggage for high-risk destinations

PARLIAMENT | The Home Ministry is undertaking full physical checks on passengers and baggage for flights departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to destinations classified as high-risk, as part of measures to tighten airport security controls.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the classification of high-risk destinations was made based on data and smuggling cases, including several destinations such as Indonesia. He did not specify which other destinations fell under this category.

"For outbound flights from KLIA, we conduct a physical pat-down, head-to-toe screening on individuals and also a full baggage inspection," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Saifuddin (above) was answering a question from Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) about the latest status of implementing 17 recommendations to strengthen security controls, screening, and risk management at KLIA and the country's international entry points, following several incidents that raised concerns about the integrity of national security controls.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said pre-recruitment drug screening for flight personnel - including pilots, cabin crew, and ground handling staff - has been tightened.

"After they undergo screening, to confirm whether they pass or not, checks must be made with the police for us to verify if they have any record.

"We will also conduct periodic and random checks," he said.

The drug screening implementation, Saifuddin said, involves the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, the police, and the National Anti-Drugs Agency.

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.

Secondary recording methods

In a related development, Saifuddin said police investigations into the leak of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Shuhaily Zain at KLIA are homing in on the possibility that the clip was obtained through secondary recording methods.

He said the probe is also looking into whether the leak originated from the system of about 5,000 CCTVs at KLIA managed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

"Did the leak start there? Or did it lead to a secondary recording and so forth? Investigations are also focusing on this matter," he said when commenting on the viral video showing Shuhaily confronting a foreigner at KLIA Terminal 1 on Sept 28 (above).

The agency previously confirmed that the recording was actual footage from KLIA's CCTV system. According to Shuhaily, he and other agency personnel were carrying out an operational readiness survey at the time, ahead of the arrival of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix delegation and crew, before conducting limited enforcement with aviation security against syndicate activities involving foreign "touts".

Shuhaily said that during the inspection and questioning process of a foreigner, two unidentified individuals were seen recording the incident and were directed to delete their recordings.

He later lodged a police report after the video spread, while the agency also filed a report regarding potential attempts to tarnish the image of the agency and himself. Shuhaily said the viral clip was not from the original CCTV source, but was re-recorded using another device before being circulated.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail also reportedly said today that his side will refer the investigation into allegations that Shuhaily physically assaulted two police officers at KLIA to the Attorney-General's Chambers tomorrow.

Khalid (above) confirmed that reports were received from the two officers claiming that Shuhaily physically assaulted them during an incident on Sept 28.

Shuhaily, a former Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director, is being probed under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

Meanwhile, Free Malaysia Today reported that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will scrutinise witness statements, CCTV footage, and other evidence before deciding if any further action should be taken over the allegations against Shuhaily.

According to the online portal, Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar said this in response to questions about the investigation paper which the police are expected to submit to the AGC today.

“The AGC will examine every aspect of the investigation before any further action can be taken in the case,” he was quoted as saying.

Police have reportedly recorded statements from 25 witnesses, including police and MCBA personnel, Malaysia Airports auxiliary police, baggage handlers, medical officers, and members of the public.

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