31/03/2026

TUESDAY | MAR 31, 2026

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‘Private security industry plagued by systemic issues’

Guards across country speak out PETALING JAYA: Security guards across Malaysia have come forward with strikingly similar accounts of pay disputes, unclear deductions and workplace pressure, painting a picture of an industry in which raising concerns could come at a cost. Despite working for different companies, the guards’ experiences reveal recurring issues – long 12-hour shifts, disputed overtime calculations, delayed payslips and anxiety over possible repercussions. Ganesan Munusamy, 59, who has spent about 20 years in the industry, said such conditions were routine. “For years I worked 12-hour shifts, day and night, from 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am. “We were rarely given proper rest time. But when it came to salary, there were always problems. “They did not calculate everything correctly,” he told theSun . He alleged that overtime was underpaid and deductions often unexplained. “If they penalise us, they should state the reason. “Instead, they simply deduct RM100 or RM80 without explanation.” He added that speaking up frequently led to repercussions. “Whoever opens their mouth becomes a target. “They will find ways to take action against you.” Mohd Darus Jiran, 59, said he uncovered certain discrepancies after reviewing his payslips during two years at a hospital. “For 21 months, my overtime alone exceeded RM15,000.” He also noticed missing offer letters and inconsistent statutory deductions. “Socso was deducted but not fully remitted. EPF contributions were inconsistent. At my age, what choices do we have? Security work is all that is available.” Mohd Nordin Abdul Rahman, 43, and Mohd Saffuan Mohd Aris, 38, raised similar concerns over transparency and documentation. “Companies do not pay fairly, overtime is not calculated properly and deductions are not transparent. “The problem is common across many companies,” Nordin said, adding that other issues included delayed payslips and missing offer letters. Sham Mei Kwan, 55, said she was dismissed shortly after raising salary concerns. “At least give me a termination letter so I can make my claims properly.” Marinah Abdullah, 45, said her salary was reduced under a new contract, while she faced pressure to withdraw a complaint and was transferred to Johor without clear instructions. – By Ameen Hazizi

Ű BY AMEEN HAZIZI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Employees short-changed on wages, face retaliation over making complaints: Union chief

Security expert Khirudin Tajudin said structural weaknesses in the sector stem largely from pricing distortions and intense competition for contracts, which place compliant firms at a disadvantage. He called for comprehensive reform involving regulators, employers and worker representatives, emphasising the need for sustained engagement. “There must be reform. The government, employers and the union must sit together.” Mohd Ali agreed that a coordinated approach is crucial, acknowledging that reform would be challenging. “Unless a concerted effort is made among the three parties, it will not be easy.” He said frustration among guards has reached a tipping point. “My guards have reached a point of saturation. They are only asking for their rights.” industry

PETALING Systemic underpayment, unpaid overtime and alleged retaliation against workers continue to plague Malaysia’s private security industry, with the Malaysian Security Guard Union saying long-standing structural failures have allowed abuses to persist unchecked. Malaysia currently has 1,126 licensed security companies, a figure that union president Mohd Ali Ibrahim ( pic ) described as excessive for a country of its size, raising questions over the sustainability of the sector. “For a small country such as ours, this is excessive,” Mohd Ali told theSun . He said the core issue lies in wage compliance, particularly in the calculation of overtime for guards working extended shifts, emphasising that existing labour ‘Pricing distortions, weak governance fuelling crisis’ Deep-rooted pricing distortions and weak industry governance, rather than enforcement alone, are driving persistent problems in Malaysia’s private security sector, an industry expert said. Security industry expert Khirudin Tajudin said aggressive undercutting and an over-reliance on low-cost labour, including foreign hires, have created a market that rewards unsustainable pricing over compliance. “The playing field is not level,” he told theSun . He said companies that adhere to statutory requirements often lose tenders to operators quoting below viable rates, raising questions over how such contracts could be delivered without compromising standards. “When you quote a rate that is lower than the minimum, how can you operate?” he asked. He added that the situation has led to a structural imbalance, in which responsible firms face shrinking margins while weaker JAYA: PETALING JAYA:

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month after month.” He added that the issue is deeply entrenched, having persisted for decades. “This has been

“They work 12 hours a day. After eight hours, it is overtime. They are supposed to be paid overtime for those additional four hours each day.” However, he alleged that many companies underpay guards by between RM500 and

happening for the last 20 years, not just now.” He also alleged that guards who lodge complaints risk retaliation, including punitive action for union involvement. “The moment the company knows they are members of the union, they penalise them”. Citing cases within Kespa, he said: “Three of my guards are now out of work simply because they made a complaint.”

RM1,000 a month, describing the practice as widespread and systemic. Pointing to the scale of the industry, he said the financial impact is staggering. “If you look at 200,000 guards, an average shortfall of RM500 per month amounts to RM100 million.

Khirudin urged a shift in how security services are structured, advocating outcome-based contracts over manpower-driven models to improve

efficiency and accountability. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

“They describe what is being done on a daily basis, but there is nothing concrete to address the core issues. “To them it is a job. To us it is our livelihood.” Mohd Ali said the union plans to hold an assembly at the Home Ministry to submit a memorandum outlining its concerns and proposed reforms. He said while enforcement mechanisms exist, implementation must be improved to address recurring complaints. – By Ameen Hazizi stronger oversight to ensure accountability among member companies. Khirudin proposed setting up an independent oversight committee within the Security Services Association of Malaysia to reinforce self-regulation. “Self-regulation must have oversight.” He further called for the introduction of benchmark rates in procurement to curb unsustainable bidding practices. – By Ameen Hazizi

He proposed a formal tripartite cluster agreement to provide a unified platform for resolving structural issues and reducing reactive enforcement. “With a tripartite mechanism, there is a common platform to resolve structural issues instead of reacting case by case,” he said, adding that there could be a continued downward spiral in pricing if the issues is left unchecked. He also highlighted governance gaps within industry bodies, urging

operators gain ground through cost suppression. “This is a service industry. If pricing is compromised, quality and welfare would be compromised.” He emphasised that addressing individual violations would not resolve the issue, calling instead for systemic reforms targeting procurement practices and industry structure. “There must be reform. The government, the employers and the union must sit together.”

Human Resources Ministry outlines enforcement measures KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 821 complaints involving security guards were recorded between 2024 and 2025, the Human Resources Ministry said, as it outlined enforcement measures amid growing calls for deeper reform in the sector. proactive inspections and investigations, particularly in high-risk sectors such as private security, in which long working hours and delayed wage payments are frequently reported. The ministry added that against guards who lodge complaints, it said workers could file formal reports, which would be investigated in accordance with labour laws, with action taken if violations are proven. It also emphasised that the confidentiality of complainants is safeguarded to protect them from adverse action by employers. while labour enforcement falls under the Labour Department. From a broader policy perspective, the ministry said a key structural issue lies in the low economic valuation of the security profession, adding that wages often remain at minimum levels, with excessive overtime becoming a necessity rather than a choice.

enforcement action against errant employers may include compounds, prosecution and recovery of unpaid wages through Labour Court proceedings under Section 69 of the Employment Act 1955. On allegations of retaliation

In a written response to theSun , the ministry said the most common issues involved breaches of the Employment Act 1955, including unpaid wages and overtime. It said compliance with labour laws is continuously monitored through

On licensing, the ministry clarified that the authority to issue, renew or revoke licences for private security firms lies with the Home Ministry under the Private Agencies Act 1971,

However, Malaysian Security Guard Union president Mohd Ali Ibrahim described the response as inadequate.