Risky to hire illegal immigrants as security guards

He said the action by some residential and commercial building owners in hiring security guards without going through proper procedures would be to their own disadvantage.

"The employers will not know the background of the guards they are hiring, like whether they (guards) have criminal records or are involved in unlawful activities such as gangsterism," he told Bernama.

Hanafee said the practice should be stopped for public safety.

Security firms or owners of residential or commercial buildings should not compromise on security by hiring illegal immigrants as bodyguards, he added.

He said action would be taken against security firms and individuals found to hire foreigners as security guards without going through the stipulated procedures.

He said 118 illegal security guards had been detained in integrated operations involving the police, Immigration Department and the National Registration Department conducted between January and May this year.