Noting that the public can now enter the airport area without strict controls unlike other countries that have scanners, Hussein said KLIA has to do better to detect people carrying prohibited items.

“We can’t (even) stop people from bringing firecrackers to the airport because it’s a public place,” he said after a handover ceremony for the new KLIA police chief.

“So, maybe, there should be stricter controls so that people can’t bring in prohibited items that can endanger civilians at the airport.”

Apart from introducing scanners, he recommended closing the corridors near the gates of the arrival and departure halls.

He said the vehicle parking lane close to the arrival and departure gates also exposed the airport to risks as people could easily enter KLIA after parking their vehicles.

Two gunshots were fired in the airport’s Terminal 1 arrival hall yesterday morning by a man believed to be targeting his wife, but failed to hit her.

One of the bullets hit a bodyguard, who is being treated in hospital.

A manhunt was subsequently launched for the suspect, Hafizul Harawi, who was arrested in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, at about 3pm today.