KUALA LUMPUR – Two rank-and-file police officers who claim they were manhandled by Malaysia’s border protection chief have launched a hard-hitting civil lawsuit against him, escalating a high-profile terminal confrontation into a full-blown courtroom showdown.
Lance Corporal Muhammad Ekmal Sofwan Driman and Lance Corporal Mohammad Faiz Muhamad filed the writ of summons and statement of claim at the Sepang Sessions Court through law firm Messrs Kamal Hisham & Associates, naming Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain as the sole defendant.
The civil barrage targets Shuhaily strictly in his personal capacity, effectively stripping away any protective shield of state immunity.
According to counsel Kamal Hisham Ja’afar and Muhammad Nor Tamrin, the plaintiffs are pressing four distinct tort claims against the top official: false imprisonment, assault, battery, and defamation.
“Both plaintiffs believe this civil action is the rightful avenue to demand accountability and secure justice,” the lawyers said in a joint statement, commending the government for its firm stance that no individual sits above the law.
The lawsuit adds fresh legal fire to an already explosive scandal. On Oct 21, Shuhaily stood in the dock at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court, pleading not guilty to two criminal counts of voluntarily causing hurt to both constables.
The alleged brawl erupted in broad daylight on Sept 28 between 1.27 pm and 1.35 pm near Counter J on Level 5 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1.
Under Section 323 of the Penal Code, the criminal charge carries a penalty of up to one year behind bars, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both upon conviction—leaving the top enforcement chief fighting simultaneously on both criminal and civil battlegrounds. – November 5, 2026