KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 ― Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) needs to review its standard operating procedures (SOP) and ensure they are security-tight, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today after a recent immigration check bungle.

The Home Ministry disclosed a security breach yesterday when a Malaysia Airlines flight MH741 carrying 135 passengers from Yangon in Myanmar bound for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was diverted to land at the Langkawi International Airport instead due to inclement weather.

Only 32 passengers went through immigration checks, national news agency Bernama reported yesterday.

“This is a serious matter and this is a clear breach of security,” Khalid told reporters at an event here.

He also urged the passengers who did not go through immigration checks at the airport to make a report at the nearest police station, saying his men will help them sort out the paper work with the Immigration Department.

He said the police will also help immigration official track down the passengers.

“Citizens or non-citizens should enter the country through the right channel and it can be deemed as illegal if they come in without going through the proper doors,” Khalid said.

The Langkawi airport reportedly did not process the passengers to determine if they were domestic or international travellers, nor did it stamp the passengers’ passports as procedure requires.

MH741 subsequently flew to KLIA, and it was reported most of its passengers disembarked through the domestic gate without going through immigration checks.