Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has called for aviation regulators and relevant agencies to review internal management, security controls and risk prevention measures following the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines co-pilot in Indonesia over alleged drug trafficking.
He said the case should be treated as a serious warning rather than an isolated incident involving an individual, as it could expose weaknesses within the aviation security system.
“The case must be viewed as a serious warning and not merely an issue involving one individual because it has exposed weaknesses in the aviation system,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) had earlier clarified that the co-pilot was not operating a flight when he was arrested, but had been seated in an additional cockpit seat as an observer.
However, Tiong said the main concern was not whether the individual had flown the aircraft on that particular day, but the positive urine test and questions surrounding the level of monitoring revealed by the case.
He said the public could reasonably question why Malaysia Airlines had focused on stressing that the individual was not operating the aircraft instead of first apologising and addressing the seriousness of the matter.
Tiong warned that authorities and industry players should not wait for an incident to occur before identifying weaknesses and taking corrective action.
“The key question is whether the existing system is capable of identifying risks before an incident happens,” he said.
He called for stricter pre-duty screening for pilots and cabin crew, with airlines, aviation regulators and the police narcotics division working together to establish and enforce the procedures.
Tiong suggested that, if necessary, aviation personnel could be required to report for duty between 90 minutes and two hours earlier to undergo screening and only begin work after completing the required checks.
He said professionals in the relevant fields should determine the appropriate types and scope of testing, stressing that the priority must be to establish a more proactive and effective system to prevent similar incidents.
According to Tiong, aviation safety involves the lives of passengers and can also directly affect international travellers’ confidence in Malaysia’s aviation system.
He stressed that airlines and regulators remained responsible for ensuring there were no gaps in safety management, regardless of whether an individual involved in a case was operating an aircraft at the time.
Tiong also urged authorities to review airport screening and security systems, including equipment, procedures and coordination between agencies, to ensure they are better equipped to address emerging security threats and prevent incidents before they occur.
He said all parties must work together to close existing gaps, restore confidence in the aviation sector and safeguard Malaysia’s international reputation.
