In this article
- 1. Does the company hold a valid KDN licence?
- 2. Is it a member of an industry association?
- 3. How are the guards trained?
- 4. Who supervises the guards?
- 5. Is the service insured?
- 6. How will incidents be reported to you?
- 7. What happens when a guard is absent?
- 8. Did they assess your site before quoting?
- A short checklist
Choosing a security guard company is a decision you live with every day: at your gate, in your lobby and in the reports you read when something goes wrong. Price matters, but it should be the last thing you compare, not the first. Here are eight questions worth asking any provider before you sign.
1. Does the company hold a valid KDN licence?
Private security companies in Malaysia are licensed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) under the Private Agencies Act 1971. Ask for the licence, check the company name and registration number on it, and check the expiry date. The ministry also offers an online check of licence status.
2. Is it a member of an industry association?
Membership of an association such as Persatuan Industri Keselamatan Malaysia (PIKM) shows that the company takes part in its industry and keeps its paperwork current. Ask for the membership certificate and the year it covers.
3. How are the guards trained?
Ask which training the guards have completed before deployment, such as CSG certification, and how new guards are briefed on your site’s procedures before their first shift.
4. Who supervises the guards?
A guard on a quiet night shift needs support. Ask who supervises the guards, how often the supervisor visits, and whom you call when you have a concern.
5. Is the service insured?
Ask what the company’s insurance covers and request a copy of the relevant certificate for your records.
6. How will incidents be reported to you?
Good guarding is visible in its reports. Ask to see a sample incident report and agree how quickly incidents are escalated to you, and to whom.
7. What happens when a guard is absent?
Ask how a guard who calls in sick is replaced, and how quickly. Write the answer into the contract.
8. Did they assess your site before quoting?
A quotation made without a site visit is a guess. A provider who asks about your entrances, operating hours and risks first is more likely to propose the right number of guards and shifts.
A short checklist
- Valid KDN licence in the company’s name
- Industry association membership
- Guard training before deployment
- A named supervisor and a contact number
- Insurance cover
- A sample incident report
- Replacement arrangements in the contract
- A site assessment before the quotation
GTAC is KDN-licensed, a PIKM member and deploys CSG-certified, supervised and insured guards. If you would like us to assess your site, request a quotation.
