‘Wearing sandals not a breach of protocol’
> MIC chief says circular does not prohibit footwear
PETALING JAYA: Dewan Negara president Tan Sri S. Vickneswaran yesterday said he had not breached any security protocol by using sandals when entering the KL International Airport VIP area.
He said the actions by Transport Minister Anthony Loke was very unbecoming as he had failed to get both sides of the story.
“At all times I was accompanied by my bodyguard as well as a security officer in the VIP lounge. I was there to send off my daughter to London.
“None of those present had informed me that I had breached the security protocol, I was merely told that a circular issued in 2013 stated that everyone entering the VIP lounge had to be properly attired,” he told theSun.
Vickneswaran, who is also MIC president, said he had only asked the receptionist at the lounge counter to show him the circular.
He said he then pointed out to her that wearing sandals was not prohibited but at no time did he shout at her. Vickneswaran said he felt that the reception officer had behaved in an unfriendly manner and his officer had lodged a report on the incident.
He said the incident happened on Nov 14, and on Nov 15 his office lodged a report over it, adding that the minister had more than enough time to get his side of the story. He also shared a copy of the report with theSun.
He pointed out that he did not use the VIP lounge just because he was MIC president and only used it as it was the privilege provided to him as Dewan Negara president.
Loke had earlier alleged that Vickneswaran refused to apologise and had since ordered airport authorities to lodge a report over the matter, which was done on Saturday. He left it to police to conduct an investigation over the incident.
“This is the New Malaysia, ministers will protect all front-line officers if they follow proper procedures, we must all follow the Rule of Law,” he told reporters yesterday.
Meanwhile, Loke said a police report had been lodged by the airport management yesterday and the ministry would wait for the full report of the investigation.