PUTRAJAYA: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has urged aviation authorities and relevant agencies to review screening procedures and flight crew security management following the detention of a Malaysia Airlines co-pilot in Indonesia over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
He said the incident should serve as a serious wake-up call to identify and close any loopholes in the national aviation system, while ensuring that passengers and international tourists remain confident in the safety of Malaysia's aviation sector.
Tiong said the statement by Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), which noted that the co-pilot was not operating the aircraft on the day of the incident, failed to address the public's main concerns and instead gave the impression that the company was downplaying the seriousness of the case.
“Passengers are not concerned about whether the individual was flying the aircraft or not, but rather about the positive urine test result and the weaknesses in monitoring exposed by this case,” he said in a statement here on Sunday.
He also described MAG's response as displaying a “denial syndrome”, saying the company appeared more focused on defending its operations than addressing public concerns and taking measures to restore confidence.
Tiong called for airlines, regulatory authorities, and the police narcotics division to jointly develop and enforce stricter pre-duty screening procedures for pilots and cabin crew.
“If necessary, staff could be required to report for duty one and a half to two hours earlier to undergo screening. They should only be allowed to begin their duties after passing the prescribed screening,” he said.
He added that airport security systems should also be reviewed, including procedures, equipment, and inter-agency coordination, to identify and rectify any weaknesses and safeguard Malaysia's reputation as a safe tourism destination.
On Aug 7, MAG reportedly announced that drug screening would be made mandatory for all 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots, with stricter checks to be implemented for all active pilots as part of efforts to strengthen flight operational safety.
The move followed the arrest of a Malaysian pilot in Indonesia on July 29 on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of drugs, including more than 70,000 ecstasy pills weighing 25 kilogrammes.
The 39-year-old man reportedly arrived on Malaysia Airlines flight MH727 from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta before being detained at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
