AADK backs mandatory drug screening for all Malaysia Airlines pilots, cabin crew

 

JERTIH, Aug 8 — The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) supports the move by Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to make it compulsory for 1,260 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilots to undergo drug screening following the recent arrest of one of its pilots in Indonesia.

AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the move to tighten security controls and extend mandatory drug screening to all active pilots and cabin crew members was in line with the zero-tolerance policy towards drug abuse and trafficking.

“Safety in the aviation sector cannot be compromised because this industry bears a great responsibility for the lives of thousands of passengers,” he said after officiating the AADK’s Madani Foster Village (KAM) and Madani Foster School (SAM) programmes at Felda Tenang here today.

He said the AADK is ready to cooperate with MAG through drug abuse detection operations, strengthening the Drug-Free Workplace (TEKAD) programme, screening and prevention training for supervisors as well as cross-agency cooperation.

Ruslin said AADK had previously conducted drug abuse detection operations involving flight crew, including at MAS in April 2025 and AirAsia in December 2025.

“AADK will continue to work with the police, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and international regulatory bodies to strengthen information sharing and security controls at all the country’s main entry points,” he said.

While acknowledging that isolated actions by individuals should not tarnish the image and professionalism of the majority of the country’s dedicated aviation workforce, Ruslin reaffirmed AADK’s commitment to support government and private sector efforts to ensure Malaysia remains free from the threat of drugs.

Meanwhile, he said the implementation of the KAM and SAM programmes at Felda Tenang demonstrated that rural development should not only focus on physical infrastructure, but also include efforts to build human capital that is safe, prosperous and free from drugs.

He said the facilities which were upgraded included the football field pavilion, futsal and sepak takraw courts, Dewan Nurul Ehsan, solar lighting at the cemetery, as well as school learning facilities such as covered walkways, air-conditioning and public address systems.

He said the number of drug addicts and drug abusers in Terengganu fell 7.2 per cent to 7,582 people in the first quarter of 2026 from 8,174 during the same period last year.

“However, the 16.7 per cent increase in involvement among children aged 10 to 14, as well as rising number of cases among those aged 55 to 59 and 65 to 69, is quite worrying,” he said.

He said young people need to be given special attention, with SAM serving as one of the early lines of defence against drug abuse at the school and community levels.

Rusliln said Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS), such as syabu (methamphetamine), yaba pills and ecstasy, remained the most prevalent, accounting for 6,206 cases or 81.9 per cent, followed by opiates with 1,281 cases or 16.9 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

He also called on AADK, Felda, educators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), youth and the local community to strengthen cooperation to ensure Felda Tenang and Besut continue to develop with quality infrastructure and remain free from the threat of drugs. — Bernama