The call came in the wake of last Wednesday’s bank robbery attempt in Sungai Petani in which the suspect, an employee of a security company, allegedly wielded a revolver. A guard at the bank was injured.

Stadam president Khirudin Tajudin noted that the incident was only the latest of recent cases of abuse of firearms by security personnel.

He told FMT the occurrence of such incidents indicated a need for security companies to monitor their staff more closely.

“The case in Sungai Petani has caused alarm to many, especially since the suspect is from a security agency,” he said.

“Security companies have to review their SOP in the training of staff carrying firearms.”

He said the current standard of training in the industry was low and many firms were doing only “touch and go” exercises.

News reports about Wednesday’s case quoted police as saying the suspect is an army veteran now employed as a manager in a security firm. They said the gun he used belonged to his employer.

Khiruddin said security companies should conduct firearms training more frequently than they were currently doing.

“Training for firearms shouldn’t be carried out only once or twice in a year,” he said. “It should be done more frequently and the performance of the guards monitored regularly.”

He urged security firms to employ professional training managers and to conduct regular assessments of firearms training.

“Owners of security companies should themselves be qualified trainers,” he added.

He also said it was time for all security companies to come together to create a group indemnity insurance scheme.