Home and transport ministries told to submit comprehensive plan to tighten KLIA security
Saifuddin Nasution says the Cabinet views recent incidents seriously as they create the impression that airport security controls have been breached.
The home ministry and the transport ministry have been directed to submit a comprehensive plan to strengthen security controls at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the directive followed the government's concern over recent incidents seen as capable of harming the country's image, besides creating the perception of weaknesses in the security control system at the premises.
Immediate steps are being taken to draw up an improvement plan involving various related agencies, he said.
"The Cabinet views the incidents seriously because they give the impression that security control at our airports has been breached.
"Therefore, a detailed improvement plan will be drawn up with the involvement of various agencies to ensure that the level of security continues to be strengthened," he told a press conference.
Airport security has come under scrutiny following several cases involving Malaysians recently, including the arrest of a Malaysian pilot after about 25kg of MDMA was seized at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Indonesia last week.
Sabah east coast travel advisories
Earlier, Saifuddin Nasution carried out a security visit and inspection at several locations within the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) with a delegation of foreign representatives, joined by Esscom commander Victor Sanjos and Esscom chief executive officer Jamaluddin Ali.
He said the home ministry was continuing to work with diplomats and foreign missions to review and ease travel advisories on Sabah's east coast, following improved security levels in the area.
Several countries, including Japan and Switzerland, have amended their travel advisories as a result of continuous briefings by the government and evidence of a stable local security environment, he said.
"This initiative is reinforced through the security visit and inspection programme which brought 14 diplomatic representatives to strategic locations and major tourism destinations in the ESSZone area.
"This allows them to see for themselves the level of peace and tourism potential in the area, and in turn convey accurate, factual and balanced information to their respective countries," he said.
On security control in the ESSZone, he said Esscom recorded 897,293 inspections, 307 arrests and 38 seizures worth RM23.37 million from January to June 30.
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