Malaysia bans hiring of foreign security guards

Malaysias Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharom has banned the hiring of foreign security guards.

Kuala Lumpur, Aug.7 : Malaysia's Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharom has banned the hiring of foreign security guards.

Security guard agencies flouting this government rule run the risk of losing their licences, being fined RM 10,000 or being jailed for three years, he warned.

The ruling comes in the wake of the arrest of a Pakistani security guard for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old student Tang Lai Meng at her rented house in Bandar Mahkota, Cheras, last Thursday.

"Foreigners cannot be hired as security guards. Only Malaysians can be hired. Many companies still do it because foreigners are willing to work without holidays," Johari said, adding that the firm that employed the Pakistani guard would be investigated.

Johari said the number of foreign guards was limited to 5% of a company's total workforce.

Security Services Association of Malaysia president Datuk Rahmat Ismail said an individual hired guards through a company or directly.

Immigration Department enforcement chief Datuk Ishak Mohamed said any foreigner, other than Nepalese, working as security guards would be contravening his work permit.

ANI