Following the shooting incident at KLIA, here are some other incidents that occurred at Malaysian airports.
Mamak Gang Robbery at KLIA (Subang)
Back in 1994 when KLIA still operated out of Subang, an armed gang known as the Mamak gang committed what is until today, the largest robbery in Malaysia. The gang impersonated police and custom officers and infiltrated the security area at KLIA, stealing RM12m worth of gold bars.
According to an article by World of Buzz, the gang managed to avoid prosecution.
Till today, the police are still hunting members of the gang, shooting dead at least eight members of the gang in seven shootouts in 2014 (one dead in November and one dead in December), 2016 (one dead), 2017 (one dead in January, and 2 dead in April), and 2018 (two dead). The current status of the gang is unknown.
KLIA Armed Robbery
In 2008, six armed robbers robbed two money changers and their two bodyguards as they exited the KLIA departure hall. Both robbers and airport security personnel fired a total of 40 shots, with six people (both money changers and their bodyguards).
The robbers escaped with about RM3.5 million. After the robbery, Malaysia Airport Berhad instituted a ban preventing vehicles from waiting at the inner lane at all airports with two lanes at the departure hall.
Armed Robbery and Shooting at Penang International Airport
Three robbers fired several shots while attempting to rob a money-changer at the Penang International Airport in 2008, marking it the second firearm-related robbery at Malaysian airports in the year. One shot hit the money changer's ear. The robbers did not get the cash the money changer was carrying as they mistakenly took another bag containing mooncakes.
Four years later in 2012, an armed robber slashed a money changer at the airport car park as the money changer was exiting his car. He then snatched a bag containing cash amounting to RM700,000.
The Assassination of Kim Jong-Nam
In 2017, Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged elder brother of the despotic North Korean President Kim Jong-Un died after two women rubbed VX nerve agents on his face while he was at the Terminal 2 of KLIA. Jong-Nam was believed to be under China's protection as the hermit nation underwent a series of internal purges.
The assassination resulted in Malaysia declaring the North Korean ambassador Kang Chol as persona non grata and severing the diplomatic ties. In a tit-for-tat, North Korea held the Malaysian ambassadorial team in Pyongyang as hostages.
In 2019, then-Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad reestablished ties with the hermit nation, after both suspected murderers of Kim Jong-Nam were released after the Court dropped their murder charges.
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