Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) has called for investigations into the arrest of a Malaysian pilot in Indonesia over an alleged drug smuggling case to focus on possible weaknesses in the security system at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), rather than solely identifying which agency was responsible.
MCW president Jais Abdul Karim said recent statements by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA), which confirmed the pilot had passed all security checks at KLIA while baggage screening fell under Aviation Security (AVSEC), should be viewed in the broader context.
According to him, the key issue is how a large quantity of drugs was allegedly able to pass through the security screening system at an international airport.
“If all existing procedures were properly followed but the drugs still went undetected, then the procedures themselves must be comprehensively reviewed,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Jais stressed that the investigation should not be limited to determining which agency was responsible, but should also examine whether there were systemic weaknesses that allowed the alleged smuggling attempt to occur.
He said the special task force established by the Ministry of Transport should determine whether the incident resulted from technological limitations, human error or the involvement of an organised criminal syndicate.
At the same time, he urged the public to avoid speculating about the airline or individuals linked to the case until investigations are completed.
“The principles of justice and due process must be respected,” he said.
Jais added that the case goes beyond the actions of a single pilot, warning that it could affect the credibility of Malaysia’s airport security system, the reputation of the country’s aviation industry and international confidence in the integrity of its border controls.
He emphasised that the effectiveness of any security system should be measured by its ability to prevent criminal activities from breaching every layer of security.
“If weaknesses are identified, they must be rectified immediately, transparently and without compromise,” he said.
