Malaysia’s border chief charged with assaulting police in viral airport clash

Malaysia’s border control chief pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two charges of assaulting junior police officers at the country’s main international airport last month, after a video of the confrontation went viral.

Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director general of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, was filmed confronting two men at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on September 28. He previously linked the incident to an operation against airport touts following complaints about smuggling syndicates at the airport.

The former national criminal investigation chief entered his plea before magistrate Khairatul Animah Jelani at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court.

According to the charge sheets seen by This Week in Asia, Shuhaily, 54, was accused of voluntarily causing hurt to two junior officers, Lance Corporals Muhammad Ekmal Sofwan Dirman and Mohamad Faiz Saman, between 1.27pm and 1.35pm on September 28 near Counter J on Level 5 of Terminal 1.

Both charges were brought under Section 323 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of up to 2,000 ringgit (US$490), or both, upon conviction.

“I pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charges,” local media reported him as saying.

Only selected media organisations were allowed into the courtroom on Wednesday because of limited space.

The court granted Shuhaily bail of 1,500 ringgit per charge – totalling 3,000 ringgit – with one surety, and set November 25 for the next case management.

His lawyer, Rosal Azimin Ahmad, told reporters prosecutors had initially sought bail of 5,000 ringgit per charge before the court allowed the lower amount.

Rosal played down the severity of the charges, describing them as akin to a “petty offence” despite carrying a possible jail term.

“This is a compoundable case. It is not a serious case,” he told reporters, referring to provisions under Malaysian law that allow certain minor offences to be settled out of court.

Asked whether Shuhaily would continue leading the agency while facing trial, Rosal said his client would remain in post for now.

“As a civil servant, I believe he will continue carrying out his duties until told otherwise,” he said.

National police chief Mohd Khalid Ismail confirmed earlier this month that two officers had filed reports alleging physical assault during the airport encounter.

Investigators recorded statements from 25 people – including police and border agency personnel, airport auxiliary police, baggage handlers, medical officers and independent witnesses – according to Khalid’s statement. Police also obtained CCTV footage and medical records as evidence.

At an October 1 news conference, Shuhaily said his officers and airport security had detained a suspected foreign tout and brought him to a baggage inspection room for questioning. According to his account, two unidentified men entered the room and began filming without permission.

His officers brought the men forward and instructed them to delete the recording. Shuhaily acknowledged reprimanding the pair but declined to comment on whether physical contact occurred, English-language daily The Star reported.

His agency also lodged a police report over the circulation of the footage, which he suggested could have been an attempt to damage the agency’s reputation and his own.

Ahead of his court appearance on Wednesday, Shuhaily thanked the public for their messages of support that he said had given him strength.

“I will let the court conduct due process,” he told reporters.

Shuhaily took charge of the border agency in July 2025 on a two-year appointment after leading the police’s Criminal Investigation Department.

The agency, which operates under the Home Ministry, was established to tighten security at Malaysia’s entry and exit points and combat cross-border smuggling.

In May, the agency intercepted 3.3kg (7.3lbs) of cocaine at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and in July seized cannabis worth 1.69 million ringgit intended to be smuggled out of Terminal 1.

Soon after taking office, Shuhaily proposed tougher recruitment procedures and dismissal for officers implicated in smuggling or abuse of power.