SEPANG - A full-scale simulation exercise for on-ground acts of aggression was successfully completed today at klia2, the second terminal of KL International Airport (KLIA). This full-scale exercise is part of regularly scheduled exercises held yearly at all airports under the management of Malaysia Airports to ensure readiness in the event of threats, accidents and natural disasters.
This latest 16-hour exercise specifically focused on simulating measures and actions taken to counter possible terrorist acts that may occur at the terminal. It was the culmination of a three-day session which started on 7 December 2017 with a workshop followed by a tabletop exercise.
In opening the session, managing director of Malaysia Airports Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said that this is part of Malaysia Airports commitment in ensuring the safety and security of its airport users. “There is an increasing trend these days for airports to be targets for such heinous and abhorrent acts. As an airport operator, it is imperative for us to have comprehensive measures in place not only to ensure airport security but also play a role in safeguarding national security,” he added further.
The exercise saw participation from agencies such as Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN), Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JaPen), Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM), Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM), Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), and Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat (JBPM), among others.
Zainol Mohd Isa, Malaysia Airports' senior general manager and head of KLIA who was also present stressed that in managing such incidents, equal emphasis must be put the smooth flow of communication among all parties so that everyone will understand the role they must play.
According to Zainol, the first day was a series of briefing sessions, one of which was by MKN to reiterate the importance of ensuring all measures are guided by the guidelines, policies and mechanism outlined in MKN 18, MKN 20 and MKN 21. There were also sessions on the current national threats, airport emergency plan (AEP), risk management and business continuity plan, airlines emergency response plan, emergency plan by the air traffic controller, media management in crisis, as well as chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) incident-handling. The second day was when all related personnel convened for a tabletop exercise to align various Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
The final day saw all participants starting the day off as early as 7 am and gathering in klia2 to engage in the full-scale exercise. There were three main scenarios enacted throughout the day simulating chemical threats, terrorist attacks and bomb explosions. The day ended with a debriefing session with all participants.
A similar exercise will be scheduled in Sandakan Airport from 12 to 15 December 2017.