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Passengers-only rule at airports impractical, expert tells Putrajaya

By Nawar Firdaws

PETALING JAYA: Fix the current security measures before implementing new ones which may sound nice on paper, but in reality are impractical.
Terrorologist R Paneir Selvam said this to FMT when commenting on Putrajaya’s proposal to allow only passengers with valid tickets entry into airport terminals for airline check-in.
“While it is good that the Malaysian Government is realising the importance of having better airport security, the said measure would be impossible to implement.
“It would also see Malaysian airports operating differently from all other international airports.
“Why not place better security measures at all of the airport’s exit and entry points, and train all security personnel there on ways to detect any suspicious individuals and behaviour?”
Paneir, who is the chairman of the Association of Legal and Policy Researchers, said a recent news report pointed out the personnel’s lack of experience and training.
The Sun daily had earlier this month carried out an experiment where one of its journalists dressed up as a woman, fully covered up, to infiltrate and check on security alertness at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
What the English daily found was a lack of awareness among the airport’s security personnel who did not even glance at the undercover journalist despite her odd behavior and movements.
“That should be looked into first. Rather than banning visitors, the government should increase surveillance and provide ‘profiling’ training for their officers,” added Paneir, a lecturer in terrorism at HELP University.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that the proposal, discussed at the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday, would mean all other persons, including family members and friends sending off the passengers, would have to remain outside the building.
This would also ensure that other people, who have no business at the airport, will be prevented from entering inside, he added.

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