KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) team sent to Jakarta has been given access to question the Malaysian pilot detained for allegedly smuggling drugs.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the process was still ongoing and the investigators should be allowed to complete their work.
“I have been given an initial briefing by NCID director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. I will also share any new developments from the interviews with members of the media later,” he told reporters yesterday.
On plans to enhance airport security controls, Saifuddin Nasution said he had been briefed by the ministry’s secretary-general and the team in charge, which comprises various agencies.
“The plan will be presented to the Cabinet next week.
“I have given them two weeks from last week to study the matter. I will study the matter first and, if there are no changes, I will present it at the next Cabinet meeting together with the Transport Minister,” he said.
On July 28, a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot was arrested at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by Indonesian authorities after officers discovered 15 large packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine in his luggage.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin Nasution said the first of four AW189 medium-lift helicopters have been handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to strengthen its capabilities in maritime enforcement, aerial surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
He said the remaining three helicopters were scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year.
“The contract is worth RM529mil. I am grateful that the project has been completed,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said the additional aircraft will strengthen MMEA’s aerial fleet with the agency expected to have nine helicopters by the end of the year.
“It will certainly boost the morale of MMEA personnel because they know that while carrying out their important duties of monitoring various threats at sea, they have the strong backing and support of the Home Ministry and the government,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said the country, as a maritime nation with a Maritime Zone spanning 556,285 sq km, required rapid surveillance and response capabilities to deal with increasingly complex maritime security challenges.
As of July 24, MMEA had conducted 116,192 inspections, 26,253 searches and made 562 arrests, involving seizures valued at more than RM4.38bil.
The agency had also conducted 129 search-and-rescue operations involving 638 victims.
