Minors can be charged with possession of illegal firearms

THE sTAR

BY ELWEEN LOKE AND LOH FOON FONGNEWSDESK@THESTAR.COM.MY

IPOH: Minors are not exempt from being charged with illegal firearms possession and their parents can be held responsible too, says Federal Internal Security and Public Order director Comm Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid.

He said illegal firearms possession was a serious offence and minors caught for possessing them could still be prosecuted.

“We will refer to the Firearms Act, whether legal action can be taken against parents for failing to monitor their children,” he said after attending the closing ceremony of the orang aslibasic constable training course in Ulu Kinta here yesterday.

It was reported that the Perak Customs Department seized five air rifles with brass pellets at the Ipoh post office on Saturday.

A 15-year-old schoolboy was picked up for ordering the rifles without an import permit. He has been released on bail.

Meanwhile, the Customs Depart­ment said the usual items seized during postal checks included illegal drugs, flick knives, daggers and imitation or toy pistols.

Customs deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Datuk Matrang Suhaili said that the items were normally discovered when Customs officers witness the checking of packages by Pos Malaysia staff.

“These items are normally sent as souvenirs. When they are seized, the recipients will be notified that the items are prohibited in the country,” he added.

Matrang said the illegal drugs were left unclaimed because the recipients realised that they could be arrested.

“If you want to import items that may be deemed prohibited under the law, please check with Customs first,” he said, adding that information on these items could be found at airport and post office counters.

According to Pos Malaysia, some items that are allowed to be sold and used in some countries are prohibited in Malaysia.

The list of prohibited items include:

>explosives, inflammable, noxious, filthy, or harmful substances and sharp instruments not properly protected;

>arms and their component parts;

>dangerous drugs; and

>indecent or obscene articles.