KUALA LUMPUR: The government should expedite the decision on adding another source country in the hiring of foreign security guards, says the Security Industry Association of Malaysia (PIKM).
Currently only Nepalese are allowed to be hired as foreign security guards.
PIKM president Datuk Seri Ramli Yusoff said expediting the decision was necessary as the country was facing a shortage of security guards.
“We need to fill up the vacancies as there is a huge demand. Shortage of security guards is common in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur.
“Foreign security guards are very much needed as such a job is not appealing to locals,” he said.
Ramli added that having more source countries would also lead to healthy competition.
“It will give security companies and its clients more choices.
“The quality of the security industry will also be elevated with more source countries for foreign guards,” he said.
In November last year, the Home Ministry proposed that people from Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia be allowed to work as security guards.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the government would hold engagement with industry players, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Defence Ministry.
He said there were also suggestions to take workers from India.
Ramli added that the security industry needed to fill up the quota for Nepalese guards as many have returned to their country.
“The quota is more than 30,000 and presently we only have around 15,000 to 20,000 Nepalese security guards nationwide.
“Malaysians would only choose the job as a last option especially in major cities.
“There is also the issue of lack of discipline, whereby some locals would work only for a few days and would not show up later. Some even leave the job after getting paid.
“In the end, the company will be imposed with a penalty. We always welcome locals as security guards but sadly some of them cannot fulfil our requirements,” he said.