Nepalese ex-soldiers, Gurkhas allowed to be guards
07/08/2007 The Star By ROYCE CHEAH

PETALING JAYA: Nepalese ex-servicemen and Gurkhas are the only foreigners allowed to work as security guards in Malaysia.

Pakistanis are definitely not on the list, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharom.

Datuk Johari Baharom

He was referring to the arrest of a Pakistani security guard in connection with the rape and murder of Utar student Tang Lai Meng, 20, who was found with her hands tied behind her back at her rented house in Bandar Mahkota, Cheras, last Thursday.

Johari said security guard agencies which flout the ruling risk losing their licences. The ruling also applies to companies which set up in-house security units.

Anyone caught flouting the regulation faces a RM10,000 fine or three years' jail, or both.

“Foreigners cannot be hired as security guards. Only Malaysians can be hired.

“Many companies still do it because foreig-ners are willing to work without holidays,” Johari said, adding that the firm which employed the Pakistani guard would be investigated.

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

Considered a “class above the rest,” Gurkhas, who come from Nepal and parts of North India, are known for their bravery, discipline and loyalty.

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

”Guards hired through a company will wear the company’s uniform while those hired directly or ‘in-house’ would probably not be properly attired,” he said.

He said it was possible for guards (whether foreign or not) to be hired without referring to any authority and to detect them was difficult with more than 100,000 guards nationwide.

“Locals will not work because the wage is too low and when there are so many foreign workers everywhere, cheap labour is readily available,” he said.

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

He urged the public to call 03-8880 1555 if they knew of such foreigners working illegally.