THE Penang Security Practitioners Organisation (Pensec) is working to remove the stigma tied to the security profession.

Indeed, long hours, low pay and little respect are what most people might think of when they see security guards.

But, the job that was once seen as the last stop for retirees or the unqualified is no longer just that.

Security roles today are becoming critical parts of operations in high-value logistics, construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

As such, the Penang-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), formed in 2001 for local security guards, is trying to change public perceptions of these personnel.

“There are degree holders in this job now. Some have engineering or IT qualifications.

“They’re not here because they failed. They chose this,” said Pensec chairman Mohamad Shafiq Muraly Abdullah.

He said a trained graduate security personnel would take home about RM4,000 a month.

This amount excludes overtime pay, phone allowance and other benefits.

“This is not about manning a boom gate anymore.

“It’s about protecting data, securing supply chains and responding to crises,” Mohamad Shafiq said after Pensec’s annual general meeting (AGM).

Pensec together with the Penang Skills Development Centre have trained more than 2,500 personnel.

Among the courses offered are Fundamentals in Security Practices and Mastering Effective Security Practices.

These cover everything from cyber hygiene and password protocols to social engineering, incident response, and access control.

“Security is now part of a company’s operational backbone,” he said.

Mohamad Shafiq Muraly admitted that many Malaysians still treated security as a fallback job.

“But, we’re making progress.”

One of Pensec’s newest courses is Industrial Investigation Techniques that teaches incident analysis and compliance, especially for high-risk sectors.”

Pensec now has about 150 active members.

The NGO hopes its outreach and programmes will pull in a new generation of security professionals.