KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) are taking steps to strengthen checks on pilots, cabin crew and other aviation personnel following the case involving a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilot linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that was the least they could do now, as the MOT was not privy to details of the police investigation, including the identities of suspects or any arrests made, as the matter was being investigated as a criminal case.

“I’m still not privy to the details…We have read that several arrests have been made, so it is better for the police to be the one making further announcements on the matter,” he said when asked at a press conference held in conjunction with the 61st Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference for the Asia-Pacific Region (DGCA/61) here today.

Loke said MOT would definitely provide full cooperation to police, including access to airport facilities and any information or personnel required for the investigation.

“The investigation is under the police. They have no obligation to inform us or to discuss with us the progress of the investigation, but we will give our cooperation by providing whatever information or access is needed, whether to our facilities or airports, as well as any personnel they want to interview or investigate,” he said.

Last Sept 4, Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said police have arrested six local men suspected of involvement in an international drug trafficking syndicate linked to the arrest of a Malaysian co-pilot in Jakarta last July.

The arrests followed information obtained from the 39-year-old co-pilot during questioning by an NCID team sent to Jakarta from Aug 11 to 15.

Media reports previously stated that the co-pilot was arrested at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 25 kilogrammes of drugs and that the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) reportedly seized 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine, with an estimated value of RM45 million.

Meanwhile, on flight diversions following the volcanic ash in Jakarta, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said Malaysia was assisting by serving as an alternate airport for flights originally bound for Jakarta.

“For Malaysia, we assist them as an alternate airport. So, some aircraft inbound to Jakarta are being diverted to KLIA, so we are supporting them in that respect,” he said.  — Bernama