Kuala lumpur: The Cabinet has given the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) two weeks to submit a comprehensive plan to strengthen airport security. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail 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 airport security.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the Cabinet is taking immediate steps to draft a detailed improvement plan involving various agencies. This decision comes in the wake of several incidents, notably the arrest of a Malaysian pilot after about 25kg of MDMA drugs was seized at Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta Airport last week.
Saifuddin also mentioned efforts by KDN to encourage diplomats and foreign representatives to review and relax travel advisories for the east coast of Sabah. This initiative follows improvements in the security situation in the area, with countries like Japan and Switzerland already amending their travel advisories due to continuous briefings and evidence of stability.
The initiative to promote a positive security image was reinforced through a security familiarisation visit involving 14 diplomatic representatives to strategic locations and key tourist destinations in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESS Zone). This program aims to allow foreign representatives to witness firsthand the state of peace and tourism potential, enabling them to convey accurate and balanced information to their respective countries.
Commenting on the security measures, Saifuddin reported that between January and June 30, ESSCOM conducted 897,293 inspections and made 307 arrests. Additionally, enforcement operations during this period recorded 38 seizures valued at RM23.37 million, reflecting stringent controls on land and in state waters.
To ensure the continued safeguarding of national sovereignty, Saifuddin highlighted the federal government's allocation of RM723 million to the ESS Zone over ESSCOM's 13 years of operation, supporting asset procurement, operations, and logistics.