SANDAKAN: The Cabinet has given the Home Ministry and Transport Ministry two weeks to submit a comprehensive plan to strengthen airport security, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic).
He said the move followed the Cabinet’s concern over recent incidents that had affected the country’s image and created the impression that there are weaknesses in airports’ security.
“The Cabinet takes a serious view of the incidents that have occurred, as they give the impression that security controls at our airports have been breached.
“Immediate steps are being taken to draft a detailed improvement plan involving various agencies,” he told a press conference.
Attention has turned to airport security following several recent cases involving Malaysians, including the arrest of a Malaysian pilot after about 25kg of MDMA drugs was seized at Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport last week.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said his ministry is stepping up efforts to encourage diplomats and foreign representatives to review and relax travel advisories for the east coast of Sabah, following the improved security situation in the area.
“Several foreign countries, including Japan and Switzerland, have already amended their travel advisories as a result of continuous briefings and proof of stability in the local security environment.”
The initiative was reinforced through a security familiarisation visit involving 14 diplomatic representatives, who visited strategic locations and key tourist destinations.
“Foreign representatives visit the ESS Zone to see for themselves the state of peace and tourism potential, thereby enabling them to convey accurate, factual and balanced information to their respective countries,” he said, Bernama reported.
Saifuddin Nasution said international confidence in the security situation and tourism potential of the ESS Zone remained high and was moving in the right direction and this was reflected in the 129,492 tourist arrivals recorded as of June.
“I believe the number of tourist arrivals in the ESS Zone points to one conclusion; the international community has confidence in its security and tourism potential.”
On security controls in the area, the minister said between January and June 30, Esscom conducted 897,293 inspections and made 307 arrests.
Enforcement operations over the six-month period also recorded 38 seizures valued at RM23.37mil, through tight controls on land and in state waters.
Saifuddin Nasution said the Federal Government had allocated a total of RM723mil to the ESS Zone over Esscom’s 13 years of operation for asset procurement, operations and logistics.
On another matter, the minister said the government has stepped up enforcement against foreign tourists found abusing social visit passes to engage in illegal economic activities in Sabah, particularly in Semporna.
He said authorities had detected cases of foreign visitors entering the country as tourists but subsequently venturing into business activities, including owning or operating resort services in partnership with local residents.
“We want to send a clear message that while our country welcomes visitors, they must abide by our laws. If they enter as tourists but engage in business activities, we will take action.”
