The Transport Ministry and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) have been urged to tighten security control for passengers in airports in the country so that the public will not be afraid to travel locally and abroad.

Datuk Chua Tee Yong (BN-Labis) said if the security matters were not properly addressed, public faith and confidence in air public transport would decline.

He said this when debating the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here on Wednesday.

Chua also called on the authorities to follow the international aviation procedures and protocols as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

He said ICAO had introduced the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), which involves monitoring and auditing various aspects, including negotiation, flight, accident and investigation, that should be adhered to by all aviation-related authorities.

"I was made to understand that Malaysia adopted the USOAP in mid-2005, and that it was supposed to be implemented once in every five years. ICAO has called on all countries to implement USOAP every year.

Singapore just carried out USOAP audit last year. Why didn't MAS and DCA implement the USOAP, it has been nine years," he said.

Chua also called on the authorities to make public the earlier USOAP report so that the people could learn about the safety aspects and weaknesses of airports in the country.