Malaysia: Arrest of Islamic State-linked guard puts airport security under spotlight

Malaysia's airport security has come under scrutiny following last month's arrest of an airport security guard for suspected links to Islamic State (IS). He is believed to be the second airport personnel to be arrested by the Royal Malaysian Police in the past two years, a development counter-terrorism police and experts called a concern. While initial investigations showed he was not planning any terror attack, he had plans to go to Syria to join IS, according to police. The suspect was a security guard at Kuantan airport and had been responsible for Malaysia Airlines aircraft safety. “The suspect’s scope of duties … for the airline’s safety operations was anti-pilferage, anti-sabotage, anti-hijacking,” said Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, deputy commissioner of the Royal Malaysia Police Special Branch's counter-terrorism unit. “He had full access to ... Malaysia Airlines aircraft, including the cockpit, to carry out inspections.” He was also responsible for sealing and locking up aircraft parked overnight at the airport until they took off the next day, said Ayob. The suspect had worked at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Kuantan airport in Pahang since October 2015, according to police. Prior to that, he had worked for Malaysia Airlines from September 2004 to September 2015 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). <br/>