Who but Umno created private security culture?

MP SPEAKS The root of the problem (of mushrooming security firms) lies in Umno-led privatisation - three phases of Build, Operate, Transfer of infrastructures - which was the main model in the 1980s, exemplified by the North-South Expressway. In the 1990s, utilities were privatised in a big way such as to independent power producers.

Post 2000, Umno was increasingly relying on its licensing power to placate an ever expanding lobby for contracts, permits, licences and favours.

There can only be a certain amount of construction contracts to be dished out. But licenses and permits are more elastic. For instance, millions of foreign workers were and are still being brought into the labour force, resulting in a race to the bottom of wages for low-end workers, many of whom are Malays.

In the private security sector, licences used to be given only to very senior retired police chiefs or generals. But in recent years, Umno politicians and their proxies received most of the new licences.

For quick money, the Umno-linked licensees are prepared to do anything. And there is practically no scrutiny. So, thanks to them, we become a nation of mercenaries in the form of foreign guards.

Failure of government, greedy cronies

The usual reply given whenever one is asked why locals are not hired is that “locals don’t want to work because the salary is low”. 

This is always the wrong question to ask. In the current job market context, if a security guard is paid RM2,500 per month, I am sure many locals would rush to become one, especially former members of the armed forces and police, many of whom are forced by circumstances to become taxi drivers. But then again, junior entry level police are also very lowly paid.

So someone will ask, why should we pay security guards so much money? The private security firms even objected to a proposed RM700 per month minimum wage for security guards in 2011.

It is as if they want to pay the lowest salary to the person is who is supposed to protect our life and our property.

What I am suggesting is that we must take an approach to understand the total and actual cost of public policies. Once everyone realises that it is not cheap to maintain law and order through private means, at some point the pressure will be on the government to improve on overall security and safety so that no one needs to hire private security protection.

And, ultimately we must ask ourselves, why do governments exist? Any Politics 101 course would parade Thomas Hobbes’ notion that government exists as “the necessary evil” to ensure that law of the jungle is not the order of the day, that there is peace and order. That's the most essential duty of any government. 

Hence, AmBank officer Norazita Abu Talib died because government policies have failed her. She died because the ruling elites were more interested in dishing out permits and licences, and not interested to take a hard look at the real crime situation.

She died because there was no police reform to refocus police’s priorities to curb crime. And she died because cronies’ interests triumphed over ordinary people’s concerns. 

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LIEW CHIN TONG is Member of Parliament for Kluang and DAP national political education director.