KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Security service companies found hiring workers without having valid documents or involved in criminal activities will have their licence cancelled without a final warning given.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the stern action taken was to prevent infiltration by terrorists into the country.

"The Home Ministry, specifically its security division which issues permits to private security service companies, has indeed tightened the procedure of hiring security guards.

"The police also do screening of each security guard to be hired to avoid what had happened in Sabah from occurring in other places,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here, today.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Abdul Manan Ismail (BN-Paya Besar) on whether the Home Ministry was reviewing the procedure of hiring security guards following the case of security guards suspected of being members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and who had used fake identity documents in applying for the job. — Bernama