Police personnel will be deployed alongside aviation security teams at airports following the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot in Jakarta over alleged drug trafficking.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet was informed today by the Home and Transport ministries that several immediate improvements were needed.

“Firstly, regarding aviation security, police personnel need to be deployed, because at present the team handling this consists of auxiliary police personnel,” the communications minister said during a weekly post-cabinet press conference in Putrajaya.

Fahmi said Malaysia Airlines Group would also be asked to review its background and health screening protocols for pilots and co-pilots.

He added that the police and Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) had been instructed to identify weaknesses that could be exploited.

The Border Control and Protection Agency

“Apart from that, the police and MCBA have been asked to examine aspects that could potentially be abused, including any gaps or loopholes that may exist, and these need to be closed and addressed immediately,” he said.

Fahmi said the cabinet had so far only received an oral briefing on the case and would await a full report before deciding on further action.

“Given that the case in Indonesia is still active, we need some time to examine the full report. We will study it and consider the necessary follow-up actions,” he said.

“Once we receive the full report on the incident, we need to determine who else may have been involved.

“Those involved must be brought to justice, and we need to determine what comprehensive measures must be taken to ensure that the existing gaps are closed,” he added.

No discussion on reviving elite units

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the cabinet did not discuss reviving three former elite police task forces amid fresh calls for their reinstatement.

“This specific matter was not discussed at today’s cabinet meeting. You may refer the matter to the home minister,” Fahmi said.

Earlier today, MCA vice-president Lawrence Low urged the government to bring back the Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gaming and Gangsterism, Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group, and Special Task Force on Organised Crime.