20-11-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) An official was recorded striking a foreign passenger in the face at the Not-To-Land (NTL) holding area of the airport, displaying aggressive and unprofessional conduct.
Multiple video clips provided to Malaysiakini by travellers who were detained in the NTL holding area earlier this month have brought this incident to light. The first three-second clip, believed to be recorded on 12 November, shows an official punching a foreign passenger in the face before ordering him to move to what appears to be a separate room. In another three-second clip, the same official can be heard shouting at foreign passengers, “Do you think I’m your servant?”
A third video, spanning 22 seconds, reveals severely overcrowded conditions in the holding area, with some NTL passengers forced to rest on the floor. The facility serves as a temporary holding area for passengers denied entry into Malaysia, awaiting repatriation to their respective countries.
Malaysia Airports Holdings has stated that certain travellers may be denied entry for various reasons, with subsequent departure arrangements being handled jointly by airlines and immigration authorities.
A foreign traveller who spent a night in the NTL holding area confirmed that such aggressive treatment by officials is not an isolated incident. “Language barriers are often the root cause,” the traveller explained. “Officials give instructions that foreigners cannot understand, leading to pushing, hitting, and verbal abuse. Action should be taken to address these issues in the holding room.”
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has since clarified that Immigration Department officials were not involved in this particular assault case. A ministry spokesperson emphasized that immigration officers’ duties are strictly limited to determining entry approval for foreign nationals.
“No immigration officers were involved in this incident,” the spokesperson stated. “Once immigration denies entry to foreign nationals, they are transferred to the NTL holding area.” The spokesperson added that subsequent handling of these cases falls under the responsibility of the airlines that transported these passengers to Malaysia.
