AVIATION regulatory authorities and related agencies have been urged to review internal management, safety controls and risk prevention measures.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the aim was to ensure that passenger safety was always guaranteed.
He also called for stricter checks to be carried out on pilots and cabin crew before starting work, to be enforced in an integrated manner between regulatory authorities and the police.
This is because, he said, apart from involving the lives of passengers, flight safety also affects the level of confidence of international tourists in the country’s system.
"Staff may be instructed to report up to two hours before duty to undergo screening, if necessary. They may only be allowed to start work after passing the prescribed screening.
"Relevant professionals can determine the type and scope of testing that is appropriate. Most importantly, we have more proactive and effective prevention methods to prevent cases like this (smuggling of illicit substances) from recurring.
"All parties must work together to close every loophole, restore confidence in the aviation sector and protect Malaysia's image," he said in a statement today.
He was commenting on the incident of a Malaysian pilot being detained by Indonesian authorities at the country's airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs on July 28.
The suspect was detained at Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, after an inspection found 15 large packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine in the 39-year-old man's luggage.
Tiong also called for the airport screening and security system to be reviewed, including in terms of equipment, procedures and coordination between agencies, so that it is better able to handle and prevent current security challenges.
He said security factors cannot only be taken seriously after an incident occurs, but rather need to be part of procedures, monitoring and daily operations.
"Passengers are questioning why Malaysia Airlines is emphasising more that the suspect was not operating the flight, instead of first apologising to the public and addressing the issue involved.
"This situation raises the question of whether there is an effort to minimise the seriousness of this case. Agencies and companies should not wait until an undesirable incident occurs before taking action," he said. – August 9, 2026
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