“The focus should not only be on whether non-passengers can come into terminals as there are many aspects of airport security.
“If we can find out how security can be enhanced in other ways, then there will be no need to prevent non-passengers from entering our airports,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.
He was referring to comments by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said recently that tighter security may be enforced at all major airports in the country, with only passengers holding tickets allowed into the terminal complex for check-in.
Badlisham said MAHB had also met with the Transport Ministry to discuss ways on how to further enhance security at airports nationwide, according to the daily.
“We will deploy more auxiliary policemen. Various proposals have been put forward and we are studying how the security can be further tightened,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Badlisham said MAHB has been working with Turkish authorities to beef up security at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. MAHB manages the airport located in Istanbul.
He said this followed a terrorist attack at another Turkish airport and an attempted military coup recently.
“Even before the incidents, we have been discussing with the Turkish government about increasing the level of security awareness (at the airport).
“I look forward to hearing what else the Turkish authorities want us to do,” he said, adding that discussions began after attacks were carried out in airports in other European countries.
Suicide bombings at the Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul’s main international airport, on June 29 left 41 people dead and 239 injured, while the failed coup last weekend resulted in the deaths of 265 people.