Security guards get their back wages after peaceful protest

KOTA BARU: Within 10 days after a group of school security guards in Machang staged a protest to demand their back wages, they received the money from their security services company.

Security guard Mohd Mahyidin Mahmud said he and his colleagues couldn’t contain their joy as they waited their turns to collect their back wages in cash.

“We did not get pay slips. But we got our August and September back wages,” he said here yesterday.

The irregular wage payment had affected 50 guards stationed at eight schools in Machang. The guards staged a peaceful protest on Oct 14 after the company paid them halfmonth wages in August.

A day after the guards picketed outside the Machang district education office, the security services company paid the guards RM240 each.

The remaining balance were paid in full yesterday.

Mohd Mahyidin said payment was made even to the family of one of his colleagues Md Asri Mahmuud who died on Friday.

The Star had earlier reported that Md Asri, 60, died of an asthma attack while on the way to hospital to seek treatment.

A week earlier, he received RM240 which he sent to his son for his education at a university.

Mohd Mahyidin said all of them had suffered for weeks because of the irregular payment.

“Some of us had to borrow money. One of our colleagues has been living without electricity for more than a month as supply was cut when he failed to pay the bills.

“Those renting houses are having sleepless nights as they can be kicked out anytime,” he added.