Indonesia to impose stricter screening of Malaysians, Singaporeans at airports

Malaysians and Singaporeans entering Indonesia will be facing stricter screening in future to prevent drug smuggling.

The company handling airports in Indonesia, PT Angkasa Pura II in a statement carried by local media said it was to ensure they did not bring in prohibited items especially drugs.

Its managing director Budi Karya Sumadi said the action was being taken because drug smuggling into the country mostly involved the two nationalities.

"In our discussions with the Transport Ministry, the issue of illegal items being brought in by people from the two neighbours, especially drugs, was raised.

"The ministry agreed that more random checks be done on Malaysians and Singaporeans coming into Indonesia," he said.

He said the company was awaiting official notification from the ministry to implement the added measure and that it included having enforcement personnel in civilian clothes who could call up suspicious visitors for full checks.

Prior to this, Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan in a statement had asked airport authorities to increase random checks on visitors to curb smuggling of drugs into the republic.