Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he called out Dewan Negara speaker SA Vigneswaran to send a message that officers should not fear VIPs when conducting their duty and that he was prepared to stand up for them.

He said this in response to the accusation against him of taking "cheap shots".

Loke had ticked off Vigneswaran for allegedly flouting Kuala Lumpur International Airport's security protocols and lodging a complaint after being reprimanded.

"I don't need such publicity. It's just when such incidences happen the minister in the past does not care.

"I want to send a message to our officers that under a new government if our officers do they duty according to the procedure and if they face trouble as a result, the minister will defend them.

"That is the message I want to send - that they should be courageous and firm in carrying out their duties," he told journalists in Seremban this afternoon.

Yesterday, Loke accused Vigneswaran of flouting security protocol when using the VIP Lounge at KLIA. 

He said Vigneswaran had "trespassed" despite being denied entry by security officers and also lashed out at them.

Loke said it was up to Vigneswaran if he refused to apologise as the matter would be handed over to the police.

"I have asked the airport management to lodge a police report and it was done yesterday, it is up to the police to investigate," he said.

KLIA is run by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, which majority shareholders are government-linked investment funds.