No report yet on Alaska Airlines’ ‘Made in Malaysia’ door plug, says Loke

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to look into the matter if the ministry receives any reports from Alaska Airlines.

PUTRAJAYA: The transport ministry has yet to receive any information regarding the purported “Made in Malaysia” inscription on the blown-off door plug of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 which made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, last week.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he was unable to comment on the matter as he could not confirm if the inscription was genuine.

“That’s just according to a news report based on an eyewitness,” he told a press conference here today.

“We will ask the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to look into the matter if we receive any formal reports from the airline concerned.”

On Tuesday, a news portal known as Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported how a school teacher in Portland allegedly found the door plug that had torn off from the aircraft in his backyard.

OPB reported that Bob Sauer was intrigued to see the door plug’s serial number and other manufacturing details apparently handwritten on the door in permanent marker.

OPB also reported that the writing on the door plug said it was manufactured in Malaysia, adding that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had retrieved the door plug.

The NTSB is investigating the depressurisation incident that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Portland.

Meanwhile, in a New Year address to ministry staff, Loke said the practice of seasonal road safety campaigning, including launching convoys, will be discontinued.

He said there is a need to dispel the notion that road safety is a concern only during festivals such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, and Deepavali.

“This is an ongoing effort. Every day should be treated as a safety campaign. We will put an end to seasonal campaigning,” he said.

Loke also said allocations for convoy launching events will be redirected to more effective approaches in raising awareness and enforcement.

“There’s no need to wait for a launch. Enforcement will proceed as usual,” he said.

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