THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has committed to fully supporting the government's decision to place its personnel within Aviation Security (AVSEC) units at airports nationwide as part of an immediate overhaul of Malaysia's aviation security framework.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the force welcomed the Cabinet's decision to enhance aviation security, including the deployment of police officers to AVSEC, and stood ready to provide its full cooperation.
"PDRM, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and related agencies, is currently finalising the implementation mechanism, including the scope of duties, deployment locations, manpower requirements, areas of responsibility and operational coordination," he said in a statement.
Mohd Khalid said PDRM believes its involvement in the aviation security ecosystem will strengthen intelligence-sharing capabilities, improve early threat detection and enhance coordinated enforcement against criminal activities exploiting the country's aviation network.
He said the move would form part of a more comprehensive and layered security system encompassing stricter access controls, enhanced passenger screening procedures, security inspections, risk assessments and closer strategic cooperation among all relevant agencies and stakeholders.
"Implementation of tighter, integrated and intelligence-led security measures is expected to strengthen preventive capabilities, reduce risks and close potential loopholes that could be exploited by irresponsible parties," he said.
The Inspector-General also assured the public that aviation security and the protection of Malaysia's entry and exit points would remain a top priority.
"Any attempt to use the aviation industry as a channel for criminal activities will not be compromised," he said.
The Cabinet ordered immediate improvements to aviation security following the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot in Indonesia last week over alleged drug smuggling.
Indonesian authorities alleged that the pilot attempted to smuggle more than 25kg of ecstasy pills through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on July 28. Investigators reportedly seized 14 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing 25.19kg, as well as 2.7g of methamphetamine found in a black backpack.
The latest security measures come amid a series of drug-related arrests involving Malaysians at Indonesian airports.
Earlier this week, Indonesian customs authorities detained three Malaysian women after allegedly discovering drugs during inspections at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. The women had arrived on a flight from Kota Kinabalu.
Authorities also recently arrested a 22-year-old Malaysian man at Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo after allegedly finding nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine and more than 1,000 ecstasy pills concealed beneath a corset he was wearing. The suspect, identified by the initials DI, had arrived on Batik Air flight OD352 from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya. - August 6, 2026
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