Bill on firearms passed
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat yesterday passed the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) 2013 Bill.
The bill was passed after the third reading by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Earlier, when winding up the debate on the bill, he said the government would study the proposal to supply one firearm for every five Rela ( People’s Volunteer Corps) members nationwide.
He said a detailed study, however, needed be done on this, especially in terms of suitability and the government’s need and capacity to supply arms to the big number of Rela members.
It is estimated that there are now almost three million Rela members throughout the country with close to one million being active.
“Hence, the question of equipping them ( Rela members)
Hence, the question of equipping them (Rela members) with firearms is a bit difficult....however, we will study it. It’s a big responsibility for those armed as the guns supplied might not only cause problems to others but also to the bearers themselves, so there should be sufficient training for them. Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Deputy Home Minister
with firearms is a bit difficult.... however, we will study it,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said firearms could not be indiscriminately distributed so as not to endanger any party.
“It’s a big responsibility for those armed as the guns supplied might not only cause problems to others but also to the bearers themselves, so there should be sufficient training for them,” he said.
On the increasing use of homemade firearms in Sabah and Sarawak, Wan Junaidi said the ministry would have a briefing with police to find out about the number of such cases and to obtain more detailed information on the problem.
“Making your own guns is an offence under the firearms law,” he said. — Bernama