MAHB: 12-year-old child was not left alone at KLIA2

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has clarified that a 12-year-old child was not left alone at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) as reported in a news article which went viral on social media on Monday.

Instead, MAHB in a statement said, the girl was accompanied by an elderly couple.

The airport authority said the footage of its surveillance camera showed that the girl and the elderly couple had left the airport in a car at 1.48 pm.

“MAHB is sympathetic to the ordeal faced by Wan Fadillah Wan Ahmad and his child on Dec 31, 2017, at klia2, however the priority of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) is to ensure that the security protocols are carried out according to security regulations determined by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the Immigration Department and the Royal Malaysia Police.

“These strict security protocols are also in line with the National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP) where only original identification or travelling documents are accepted for boarding,” it said.

MAHB said while it understood the inconveniences it had caused the parents and child involved, it was not able to compromise on this matter as the measures were in place for airport security to safeguard the national gateway against unsecured access, for the security and safety of the individuals as well as airlines alike.

“It is our duty to ensure that all travellers have valid and original travelling documents before they are allowed to board any aircraft. We seek the public’s understanding of our role in safeguarding airport security as well contributing towards national security,” the statement said, adding that the MAHB would continue to work with the relevant authorities to improve the processes. - Bernama