KUCHING: The authorities must be firm in handling the making and assembling of homemade shotguns and airguns.
In making the call, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the police and prosecutors must be firm when addressing the issue.
“Looking at the number of homemade guns seized, which I hope is not the tip of an iceberg, the police and prosecutors must be firm on the matter,” he said in a text message received here yesterday.
He said this in response to the latest case reported in Miri where the police seized two homemade shotguns, two homemade airguns and two rounds of ammunition. The seizure was made following the arrest of two siblings, aged 22 and 40.
Karim said that firm action was necessary to prevent the matter getting out of hand.
He also said it was equally important that the public be properly informed that possessing unlicensed guns, even if they were homemade, was an offence.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, meanwhile, said homemade shotguns fell under artificial arms of the Arms Act 1960.
He however said the provision had never been amended and it was obvious therefore that the punishment be reviewed because this particular provision would include pinball guns and similar weapon.
He said that punishment for carrying and using such weapon was a year jail or RM5,000 fine or both.
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