PUTRAJAYA: Security firms can now hire guards from two other countries other than Nepal, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“We find that it is difficult to get guards with military or police background from Nepal nowadays.

“The ones that are available are those sourced from villages and the interior.

“Due to this shortage, the Government has agreed to allow firms to hire from two other countries besides Nepal,” said the Deputy Prime Minister at a meeting with security firms and industry players here yesterday.

However, Dr Ahmad Zahid said firms should prioritise local guards over foreign guards.

When asked by reporters later, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the two source countries had not been finalised yet.

“Our Cabinet has principally agreed, but the source countries themselves will have to approve it as well.

“We are working on this,” he said.

The policy to hire only Nepalis with “Gurkha army” background as security guards has existed since 2006.

A source said Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan were among the countries being looked into as new sources for security guards.

On another matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid said his ministry had rejected the Education Ministry’s request to hire Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) personnel as security guards in schools.

“I have already spoken to the secretary-general of the Education Ministry about this. Schools can only employ security guards from private firms that are licensed under the national association.

“If schools still want to employ the Rela staff, then these Rela staff must be absorbed by a private firm as a guard,” he said.

Also present were his deputies Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Masir Kujat, secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim and Security Services Association Malaysia president Datuk Seri Mustapa Ali.

Some 3,600 industry players, including board of directors, management and customers attended the meeting yesterday at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said he would convey other issues affecting the industry such as minimum wage and late payments to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to be resolved.

On an unrelated matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the meeting between political enemies Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a “desperate political move”.

“The public knows that his (Dr Mahathir’s) intention is political and out of desperation, as he needs the support of Opposition parties.

“It is not because he agrees with Anwar (on protesting the National Security Council Act) or to be friends with him.

“Out of this desperation, Dr Mahathir decides to meet Anwar but everyone knows it is a political meeting that has no sincerity,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid.

TAGS / KEYWORDS:
Government , nepal , security guards , zahid hamidi

Source:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/09/07/guards-from-two-new-nations-dpm-security-firms-can-now-hire-from-countries-other-than-nepal/