Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said that he would ask Bank Negara to instruct all banks which have automated teller machines (ATM) and cash deposit machines (CDM) nationwide to provide 24-hour security guard service at the premises.

The deputy prime minister said the move was due to rising number of robbery cases involving customers using the ATM and CDM, or robbers using explosives to break open or to pull out the machines.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said this at the National Security Services Industry Gala Dinner at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here, Friday night.

Also present were Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat, President of the Malaysian Security Services Association Datuk Seri Mustapa Ali and Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (Security), Datuk Seri Mustafa Ibrahim.

Ahmad Zahid also said that starting next year, all bodyguards would be compelled to to undergo a special training commissioned by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The deputy prime minister said the training was aimed at improving the quality of bodyguard services in the country and would also become the compulsory requirement for bodyguards in the renewal of their licence to carry and use firearms.

"This is a necessary measure to ensure the security service company will not be renting out firearms to any individuals simply on the basis of being bodyguards," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the government was also planning to give the opportunity to foreign nationals to work as security guards to overcome the shortage of security guards from Nepal.

He said the matter will be formally announced after the Cabinet and the Special Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers convened their meetings.

So far, he said a total of 3,312 Nepalese security guards were trained under the 'Trained Nepalese Guard' (TNG) programme which began last May.

In addition, he said, the Basic Certified Security Guard Training Course held this year had successfully trained 17,153 security guards, bringing the total to 44,566 since its inception in 2014. - BERNAMA