Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the matter will be studied before any decision is made and discussions will be held with stakeholders to ensure that no problems will arise in the future.

Currently, only Nepalese are allowed to serve in the security sector.

“I will announce this after the engagement session with the relevant parties, including industry players and government agencies such as the foreign and defence ministries,” he said after officiating a meeting with the security services industry and private agencies here today.

Commenting further, Hamzah said this was to ensure that those who are brought in were in Malaysia to work and not for other purposes.

“This involves national security and I am very sensitive to this issue,” he said.

Hamzah disclosed that a total of 66 security services companies have had their licences revoked since 2014 due to the lack of security screening, misuse of firearms and hiring illegal immigrants.

He urged security service companies to renew their licences on or before Dec 31 to avoid any action against them.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said the ministry would establish a security services industry training academy to enable security guards to receive basic training.

He said the academy would collaborate with agencies such as the police, the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) and immigration department.