The viral video from Kuala Lumpur International Airport has put Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain at the centre of scrutiny.

Rather than dismissing the incident or relying on his position, Shuhaily has said he is prepared to accept whatever decision the government makes.

He acknowledged that he is not perfect and said he was prepared to take responsibility for what happened.

That is a significant response from the head of a government enforcement agency.

Accountability Starts at the Top

Public officials are entrusted with powers that ordinary citizens do not have. When those powers are questioned, accountability cannot stop at the officers on the ground.

Shuhaily is the head of an agency responsible for securing Malaysia's entry points. If his conduct during an operation is found to have crossed the line, he has made clear that he is willing to face the consequences himself.

He has also said he hopes any action against him will not affect AKPS personnel, whom he described as the backbone of efforts to strengthen security at the country's entry points.

An agency should not lose sight of its wider mission because its leader is facing scrutiny. At the same time, the importance of that mission cannot be used to avoid responsibility.

Shuhaily Has Given His Account

Shuhaily has provided his account of what happened.

He said the incident took place during a limited enforcement operation involving AKPS and KLIA Aviation Security (AVSEC), following complaints about a foreign tout syndicate and concerns over drugs and contraband at baggage screening areas.

A foreign national believed to be linked to the syndicate had been detained and taken to an AVSEC baggage inspection room, where two unidentified individuals began recording the operation.

His account provides additional context surrounding the confrontation seen in the viral footage.

But explaining the circumstances does not mean avoiding responsibility. Shuhaily has left the question of any consequences to the authorities.

That is the standard expected of someone leading a government enforcement agency.

Enforcement and Accountability Can Coexist

There is also a broader lesson for AKPS.

Border enforcement is not a job where officers can afford to be passive. The agency deals with smuggling, contraband, drugs, immigration offences and organised activity at some of Malaysia's busiest entry points.

Shuhaily said AKPS continues to receive complaints about smuggling and prohibited materials at KLIA. 

Bernama also reported last month that enforcement at KLIA's Terminals 1 and 2 was seeing almost daily arrests involving attempts to smuggle cannabis, with tighter screening credited with helping curb repeated attempts.

That work requires decisive officers.

It also requires leaders who are willing to answer for the way that authority is exercised.

An agency can be firm with people attempting to breach Malaysia's borders while holding its own officers to standards of accountability.

The Leader Sets the Standard

Shuhaily's response ultimately places responsibility at the highest level of the agency.

He has made clear that his position will not shield him from whatever action the government considers appropriate.

For a senior enforcement official, that is an important standard to set.

Being responsible for a powerful enforcement agency does not mean being exempt from responsibility.

If AKPS is expected to enforce Malaysia's laws at the border, its leadership should be willing to stand by the same principle.

No position should place someone above accountability.