PETALING JAYA: The two-week deadline for authorities to strengthen airport security must come with concrete and measurable targets that can ensure improvements, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the time-frame should not only be used to propose additional security measures, but also identify weaknesses in the existing system.
"Airport security is ultimately a national security issue.
"It requires constant vigilance, continuous improvement and zero tolerance towards those who attempt to exploit Malaysia's airports for drug trafficking and other criminal activities," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 8).
This comes after police recently confirmed the arrest of a Malaysian pilot suspected of attempting to smuggle about 25kg of MDMA and a small amount of methamphetamine through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.
The 39-year-old was arrested shortly after arriving in Jakarta from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (July 28).
Following this, the Cabinet gave the Home Ministry and Transport Ministry two weeks to submit a comprehensive plan to strengthen airport security.
Lee further questioned if existing security procedures in Malaysia's airports are sufficiently robust to detect and prevent attempts to use airport facilities, personnel or aviation networks for illegal activities.
"KLIA handles millions of passengers and a huge volume of cargo every year.
"Its security systems must be able to meet increasingly sophisticated threats posed by international drug syndicates and organised criminal networks," he said.
He further proposed a comprehensive review of safety procedures at airports, specifically passenger screening, baggage and cargo checks, staff access controls, intelligence sharing and monitoring individuals who may be vulnerable to recruitment by syndicates.
"Airport employees and aviation personnel must be made fully aware of the risks of being recruited, manipulated or exploited by drug syndicates.
"Strong background checks, continuous monitoring where appropriate, integrity programmes and effective reporting mechanisms should form part of the overall security framework.
"The objective is clear - our airports must never become a safe haven, transit point or operational platform for drug syndicates," he said.
He said airport security must go beyond preventing unauthorised access or ensuring aviation safety.
"Our airports must not be exploited as channels for drug trafficking, smuggling or other criminal activities," he said.
