DPM announces task force on firearms management after 26 shotguns go missing

MALACCA: The government has set up a special task force to implement a number of immediate measures to improve the firearms management of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister, said through this task force, the Rela weaponry secretariat would be implementing new standards that must be adhered to by Rela officers and members in the use of its firearms.
"Actions that need to be undertaken include implementing the existing firearms management manual and all directives issued by the Rela director-general must be enforced immediately.
"We have also set up a firearms inspectorate team at the Malaysia Rela office, done overall checks on the firearms and improved the procedure in the taking out of firearms," he told reporters after officiating at the Home Ministry's Open Day in Ayer Keroh, here, today.
Ahmad Zahid said this when commenting on the 26 shotguns that went missing from the Rela inventory in Selama, Perak early this month.
Also present were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
Meanwhile, Nur Jazlan said the weapons management system of some agencies under the Home Ministry will be monitored and tightened to prevent weapons from going missing.
He said among the agencies involved were the police, People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), Road Transport Department (RTD) and Royal Customs Department.
According to him, police had their own strict standard operating procedure (SOP).
"So I feel there is no problem with police, however, it could be for other security agencies.
"As such, the Home Ministry will ensure their SOPs will be tightened to account for all weapons issued to the agencies," he said, adding that he did not rule out the possibility of the missing weapons being linked to terrorists.
Ahmad Zahid said the Rela long-term firearms management plan had also been drawn up, including upgrading the firearms storage facility and improving the skills of Rela staff in firearms management.
He said the post of Armoury Unit officer would be created to safeguard and manage all matters pertaining to Rela's firearms in a more efficient and transparent manner.
Meanwhile, he said the Home Ministry would not compromise with or protect any Rela staff involved in the disappearance of the department's (Rela) firearms.
"The (preliminary) investigation found the individuals involved had been selling the Rela firearms since 2012 and based on the audit conducted by police, the misdeed was committed by the Rela staff themselves.
"We leave this investigation to the Royal Malaysian Police for appropriate action to be taken ... the results of the investigation will be handed to the DPP (deputy public prosecutor) for court action to be taken," he said.
Yesterday, six individuals in Kedah and Perak were arrested by police after they were believed to be involved in the selling and buying of some of the 44 firearms of Rela Selama district in Perak that were detected missing since early this month.
The activity was discovered after the Government Agency Firearms Licence Enforcement Unit, Inspector-General of Police Secretariat (Firearms Licence), Bukit Aman inspected and audited the Northern Region Rela Training Centre in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
On another development, Ahmad Zahid said stern action would be taken against the Immigration officer if it was true that he had raped a female Thai detainee at the Immigration Detention Depot in Machap Umboo, Alor Gajah, Malacca two weeks ago, as alleged.
"We want to return a positive perception of the Immigration Department and other enforcement agencies. We have never protected anyone involved in such acts and we hope the (stern) action give us a high level of public trust," he said. — Bernama