Freeze on Nepali security jobs

The government has announced an immediate freeze on employing Nepalis as security guards and might send back, in batches, about 300,000 already hired on the grounds that they might pose a security risk.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar told Parliament that too many Nepalis were employed in the security industry and most had military training and could handle firearms.

"They pose a possible security risk," Syed Hamid said.

Lawyers and human rights activists dismiss the security fears, saying the government is looking for excuses to create jobs for unemployed Malaysians whose numbers have risen from about 3,000 in September last year to around 80,000.

In December and January, about 270,000 foreign workers who had lost their jobs after manufacturing and electronic factories closed down were sent back to their home countries.

About 30,000 Malaysians had lost their jobs in Singapore and returned, putting the government under pressure to retrain them, pay welfare benefits or help them get work.

The government has started various schemes to retrain unemployed locals and find new jobs.

In January, it froze the employment of foreign workers in some sectors.

There is a high demand for Nepali security guards because they speak English, often have police and military backgrounds and are willing to work long hours for low wages.

Human Resources Ministry officials said they were planning to raise wages for security guards from about RM500 to RM1,500 to attract Malaysians.

Syed Hamid said the number of Nepalis in the country had risen to alarming levels.

"They all have military training, which can be a security risk to the country," he said. "If the security industry has only foreigners, it will have an impact on national security if not handled well."

Syed Hamid said locals in the security industry numbered about 200,000.

"They are just finding excuses to get rid of the Nepali security guards," said Irene Fernandez of Tenaganita, a human rights NGO.

"Going by experience, Nepalis are hardworking, committed and very law-abiding," she said, urging the government to respect national and international labour codes when sending home retrenched workers.

"If retrenchment cannot be avoided, the government must ensure employers pay up all outstanding wages and in addition offer sufficient retrenchment benefits before they are sent home."