IGP: Missing Rela firearms sold, buyers being tracked

MALACCA: The missing firearms from the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) in Selama, Perak, have been sold, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

Khalid also added that the police have recovered 11 of the 26 shotguns that were reported missing while 12 people aged between 40 and 60 were arrested to help in the probe.

Those detained included Rela members and buyers of the firearms.

“There will be more arrests and I am urging those who have bought the firearms to surrender them to the police.

“We are tracking the buyers and will be able to identify the stolen weapons based on their serial numbers,” Khalid said after attending the Home Ministry’s open day event at Ayer Keroh here yesterday.

He was commenting on a media report that the shotguns were discovered missing earlier this month after an audit of the Rela northern region training centre by Bukit Aman and the Kedah police headquarters’ firearms licensing enforcement unit.

The event was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Khalid said the police would help monitor the weapons management systems of some of the Ministry’s agencies to prevent any firearms from going missing.

Earlier, Dr Ahmad Zahid who is also the Home Minister, said action would be taken against the Rela head of department believed to be involved in the case.

He said the individual was believed to have been involved in the selling of firearms for the past five years.

“We won’t compromise on such acts, and have also set up a special team at the Ministry to improve the standard operating procedures of Rela’s weapon management system,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid.