Airports to tighten security at VIP lanes, says Loke

X-RAY scanners will be placed at VIP lanes at airports as security measures are being tightened to prevent smuggling, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

More stringent measures were being implemented, he said, to prevent VIPs and politicians from abusing their privileges to smuggle items into the country, which reportedly included cash.

“We are aware of the weaknesses in the present system as there are no Customs or Immigration personnel at the VIP lanes.

“We will tighten control at the VIP lanes and place personnel there to conduct checks.

“There will be no exceptions and I hope the VIPs cooperate and not complain when they are checked,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis).

Pang had asked what was being done to curb instances of VIPs abusing the special lanes to reportedly smuggle in money.

It was reported recently that an agency related to the Prime Minister’s Department had brought in RM42mil through the VIP lanes for use before the May 9 general election.

Datuk Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim, who is the former head of operations for Immigration at KL International Airport, had claimed that this was common practice.

Currently, any normal passenger bringing (in cash) more than RM41,000 must declare this to the Customs Department and obtain permission from Bank Negara.

Loke also assured Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS-Ranau Panjang) that there would no longer be any pat-downs of passengers at the immigration check-points in KLIA when x-ray scanners were installed.