Home Ministry still studying proposal to bring in foreign security guards besides Nepalese

The Home Ministry is still studying the proposal to bring in security guards from new source countries such as Sri Lanka, said its secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim.

He said the ministry had received several proposals from the security service industry to review the current policy which only allowed Nepal nationals to work as security guards in Malaysia as there were now less experienced personnel or ex-army staff from Nepal.

"Studies have been conducted on local demand, the actual need, and most importantly, the implications on security and public safety," he said in a statement here Friday.

Alwi was commenting on the statement by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed on the proposal to allow other foreign nationals such as from Sri Lanka and elsewhere to work as security guards in this country.

Alwi said the ministry held talks with other ministries and security agencies about the security industry before making a policy and decision allowing other nationals to work as security guards.

At present, the ministry only allowed security guards from Nepal to work here for three years only, he said.

"However, they can apply for an extension for a fourth and fifth year, if there are requests from security companies, subject to the foreign labour policy in Malaysia," he said.