Andrew Sebastian, president of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia, said the inquiry must be led by independent experts and external parties to fully identify vulnerabilities within airport security systems.
“Are our staff well-trained? Are the systems effective? We don’t know for sure because transparency is still lacking.
“There are too many gaps in both the hardware and the human element,” he told FMT.
Sebastian said the repeated smuggling of endangered animals out of the country without detection suggests the presence of serious “internal weaknesses”.
“We must ensure there is no conspiracy between the smugglers and airport personnel. Nip that in the bud, then we can talk about hardware.
“If it is live animals today, it could be explosives tomorrow,” he said, adding that Malaysia’s airport security has “a lot to answer for”.
Malaysian authorities have made some significant interceptions recently, including on May 30, when it prevented a large number of Vietnam-bound turtle hatchlings from leaving the country.
Despite this, wildlife smuggling has continued to take place at an alarming rate, with several attempts thwarted overseas.
In March 2025, Indian authorities at an airport in Chennai intercepted a suitcase arriving from Malaysia containing several exotic animals.
In another case, customs officers in Tamil Nadu arrested a passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur with two exotic monitor lizards hidden in checked baggage.
TRAFFIC’s Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy said Indian enforcement officers have seized more than 10,000 smuggled animals originating from Malaysia over the past four months alone, including turtles, gibbons, bats and reptiles.
She warned that Malaysia runs the risk of being perceived as a major transit hub in global wildlife trafficking networks if the trend continues.
“This is not just about conservation anymore. It’s a criminal matter, a public safety concern, and a risk to human health.
“Some of the smuggled animals are venomous. Others may carry diseases. It’s a threat to everyone at the airport, not just the animals,” she said.
Late last year, transport minister Loke Siew Fook and then natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad pledged tighter screening at KLIA and other key exit points, as well as improved coordination with international enforcement agencies.
“Malaysia needs a dedicated agency to lead anti-trafficking efforts across all transit points, supported by continuous training, stronger intelligence sharing, and tougher action against offenders,” she said.