Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Orders Airport Security Review and Tourist Pass Crackdown in Sabah

The Malaysian cabinet has given the Home Ministry and Transport Ministry two weeks to submit a comprehensive plan to strengthen airport security after a series of incidents, including the seizure of about 25 kg of ecstasy at Jakarta airport and concerns that security lapses have harmed the country’s image. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the move during a press conference after touring several islands in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone with foreign diplomats, urging them to review and relax travel advisories for the region.

Saifuddin also ordered a crackdown on foreign tourists misusing social visit passes to conduct illegal economic activities in Semporna, directing the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and local authorities to conduct joint enforcement operations. He highlighted cases where visitors entered as tourists but then operated or owned resort services in partnership with locals. The minister noted that the ESS Zone recorded 129,492 tourist arrivals as of June and affirmed that the international community retains confidence in the area’s security and tourism potential.