This was not a US flight, I don’t know if there are any groper in Malaysia where it originated. But I did read elsewhere that the airport security there is considered very good. FWIW.
Other than that little problem with 4 stolen passports getting through.
Not sure how Malaysia does it but my experience in Saigon was that the United Airlines flight I was boarding’s final destination was USA (even though I’d be changing planes in Hong Kong) and because of that we had to remove shoes and go through the same procedures that are done in US airports.
There was another flight boarding whose final destination was not USA and those passengers did not have to remove shoes. Not sure if it was a domestic flight or an international non-US flight.
I also remember the announcement for my flight and they said that because the aircraft would be flying to the US that passengers would need to remove shoes...etc.