Why is K-pop star exempted from KLIA's body check security protocols, further enjoy ‘VIP lane' access?

Focus Malaysia

3 days ago

9/11 changed the course of modern history and has had lasting repercussions for everyone, not least with regard to air travel security protocols.
Like it or not, they are there for a reason – passenger safety – and nobody really has any right to grouse or complain despite of the inconveniences, long queues checking in and inevitable delays.
Thus imagine the surprise of a commercial pilot who queried on X whether these strict security protocols could be loosened simply because of a person's celebrity or VVIP status.
its so sad seeing this </3 pic.twitter.com/qkJBgrYYFT
— 이찬's 자기⚡️.ᐟ (@channi3rainb0ws) July 5, 2025
Wan Arief Imran (@wanariefimran) who claims to be a A320 and A350 Airbus pilot had attached a video on his social media post purportedly showing a visiting K-pop star being escorted on a buggy bypassing a security checkpoint.
The K-pop star was identified by the X artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot @Grok as boy band SEVENTEEN member Mingyu who was in Malaysia recently or a Snickers event.
Is this normal protocol, queried the poster? However, this simple yet valid question seems to raise the heckles of some commenters who saw it as an attack on their beloved genre of music and their 'idols'.
There was also a suggestion of selective enforcement with a commenter tagging Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail if this was a blatant double standard practice.
This was when the relevant authorities – in this case airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd – stepped in with a statement which clarified the matter.
This was also confirmed by a few other air travellers who seemed quite clued in on the procedure, outlining what these visiting VVIPs need to do before boarding their respective flights.
One commenter further confirmed through first-hand experience that VVIPs did indeed get scanned before boarding.
Another urged others not to take umbrage at the query. It was a useful information with everyone, including himself, learned something new.
Such procedure, suggested one commenter, was to avoid any commotion that may arise, especially concerning over excited K-pop fans when spotting their idols.
Some were, however, surprised that the poster who proclaimed to be a pilot did NOT know of this security procedure.
It was surmised that this post was mere content creation designed as click bait to get more engagement. Another wondered if the poster was a helpless attention seeker.
Whatever the motivations, it is good to know that visiting pop stars or titled VVIPs are not exempted from security procedures designed for the safety of all passengers.
After all, Malaysians are not so stupid to bypass an integral part of airport security simply to satisfy some pop star's or VVIP's ego. – July 9, 2025