Monday, Dec 10, 2012
GEORGE TOWN - Airport authorities here have denied that there was an apparent security breach at the Penang International Airport with the disabling of the keypad-controlled security door locking mechanism late last month.
Penang International Airport senior manager Mohd Arif Jaafar said the magnetically-controlled doors with a keypad access system, were temporarily disabled at certain areas by its security consultants to facilitate installation of the system across the airport.
He said although the system was not activated, there were constant patrolling by aviation security officers and surveillance was done through the closed-circuit television cameras.
"We are aware of this matter.
"This was to allow the security consultants to synchronise the system in its entirety," he said in response to an allegation by Jelutong member of parliament Jeff Ooi yesterday that there was a serious security breach at the airport as the security firm had purportedly not "calibrated" the keypads.
Ooi alleged the keypad control for all the doors in the airport for the doors were unsecured, allowing anyone to walk in and out freely.
Arif also denied an allegation by Ooi that two airport workers were injured in a glass door mishap in the midst of the ongoing airport upgrading exercise.
