The staggering figure was disclosed to The Malay Mail by Security Services Association of Malaysia President Datuk Shaheen Mirza Habib. [break]
The Nepali guards are deemed illegal since they do not have military experience as required for their employment.
Shaheen said all 4,900 Nepali guards employed by the association members had served in the military and they were the only ones permitted by the Home Ministry to work here.
"Those without military background are illegally employed. They make up three to four times the number of legitimate or licensed security guards from Nepal."
He said the reason is simple - Nepali guards without military experience are cheaper.
"Nepali guards with military background are paid around RM1,500 per month while those without are paid less, about RM900 a month."
A local guard is usually paid less than an ex-army Nepali guard. "There are many cases where unscrupulous security companies franchise their licenses to unregistered companies," said Shaheen.
"These are the companies that will illegally hire Nepali guards. They are also the ones that will take foreign guards who are not from Nepal."
Nepali security guards are in high in demand due to a common perception that they are more disciplined, hardworking and reliable than locals.
"Personally, I think local guards can be just as good as the Nepalis," Shaheen said, adding that one way to tackle the problem is for the ministry to increase the quota of Nepali guards with military training.
"Currently, the quota is too small while demand is very high. The ministry should, perhaps, increase the quota by 10 per cent."
He said the association had forwarded to the ministry a memorandum to increase the quota.
On Monday, The Malay Mail reported how checks at several locations in the Klang Valley revealed a majority of the Nepali guards do not possess a military background, with one of them discovered to be a former volleyball player!
On Tuesday, The Malay Mail had reported the Home Ministry would immediately conduct a massive audit of more than 400 security companies nationwide.
Home Ministry Deputy Secretary General (Security) Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ab Aziz had said that its officers would act to weed out security firms that failed to abide by the Private Agencies Act 1971 and the Circulars on Private Security Agencies.
The audit checks will include the eligibility age, country of origin and whether the personnel had undergone background vetting and training before being hired.
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