Act against firm for hiring rape-cum-murder suspect

Investigate how the security company employed the guard with previous criminal records, says education minister.

SHAH ALAM: Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid wants stern action to be taken by the Home Ministry against the security firm which had employed the suspect in the rape-cum-murder of a 17-year-old student in Teluk Kumbar, Penang.

He said investigations should be conducted on the security firm for employing the suspect, who had previous criminal records, as a school security guard.

“To get guards for schools, only security firms with a licence from the home ministry are eligible to be awarded the tender,” he told reporters after handing over of “Bayaran Intensif Tawaran Baharu – BITB” to 97 school principals nationwide here today.

Mahdzir said this in response to a case of a security guard being detained on suspicion of raping and murdering a student.

The 20-year-old suspect, believed to be the victim’s boyfriend, had a previous record for a drug-related offence.

Mahdzir said security firms should conduct thorough checks on the background of individuals, including checking with the police, before employing them.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wanted a show-cause letter to be issued to the security firm concerned for employing a person with a criminal record as a security guard.

– BERNAMA