Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd denies appointing company handling NTL issues at KLIA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) has denied assigning a contract to a company based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for handling travellers with Not-to-Land (NTL) notices.

MAHB said in a statement that it was actually the KLIA Airline Operators Committee, an entity which is made up of 40 airline operators and 26 associates which had appointed this company.

It also said the appointment of this company was endorsed by the Immigration Department.

"The handling of Not-To-Land passengers due to various reasons including amongst others, passport validity, visa issue, criminal history and security concerns falls under the purview of the respective airlines and Immigration Department of Malaysia as specified under International Civil Aviation Organisation's Annexe 9 and Malaysia's Immigration Act (Act 155).

"An independent company was appointed by the KLIA Airline Operators Committee (AOC) to handle passengers at KLIA, a committee consisting of 40 airline operators and 26 associates, and not by MAHB.

"The appointment was agreed an endorsed by the Immigration Department.

"As the airport operator, MAHB has provided a suitable space to facilitate the handling of NTL passengers while they await their return flights," MAHB said in the statement issued today.

Yesterday (July 6), it was reported that the cabinet wanted the Transport Ministry to look at the procedures of Mono Circle Sdn Bhd, a company which handles travellers served with NTL notices at KLIA.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said that Mono Circle had been appointed by airline operator companies to handle NTL travellers since February 2015.

The issue came to light following a commotion at the KLIA Terminal 1 when Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing intervened to "rescue" a Chinese national who was detained by immigration officers upon entering the country on June 30.

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had also said yesterday (July 5) it is investigating an agent who allegedly solicited a fee to help this tourist from China when she arrived at KLIA.

He also said the woman, and her witness, had both returned to China yesterday (July 5).

MACC also confirmed the duo and Tiong were among 14 people whose statements had been recorded to date in the case.