Guards in limbo over wages
One of them gave son RM240 – all he got since August before dying
KOTA BARU: School security guard Md Asri Mahmud, who had not been paid in full since August, gave the RM240 he received recently to his son for his education.
Less than a week later, Asri, 60, died of an asthma attack while on the way to hospital to seek treatment.
Asri was one of 50 school security guards in Machang who had been affected by irregular payment of wages by their security services firm.
He was anxious for his wages to be paid in full as his son, a first-year Universiti Utara Malaysia student, needed money for his studies.
“Uncle Asri passed away on Friday not knowing if the security services company would ever settle our back pay," said his nephew Zulkifli Abdullah, a fellow school security guard.
Some of the affected security guards staged a peaceful protest outside the district education office on Oct 14 to demand their wages.
“When the company finally paid us a mere RM240 each the next day, Asri gave the entire sum to his son who is studying in Kedah,” said Zulkifli, adding that Asri had four children.
Zulkifli, 43, said he was also facing financial hardship.
“I have three young children. I can’t even afford to pay the monthly RM150 house rental.
“The RM240 payment received last week is barely enough for groceries,” he said.