KUCHING: Wanita PKR is calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue of illegal possession of firearms and their easy accessibility in view of the
rise in crime cases involving guns recently.
Its national vice-president Voon Shiak Ni said the crime situation had reached a worrying state and the public should be enlightened on the issue so that they can help to keep an eye on their surroundings as well as help the police in their investigations.
“We are not living in a terrorist state but if this trend of killings by firearms cannot be brought under control as soon as possible, the people will soon live in a state of fear and terrorism,” she said on Sunday.
Voon added that the negative impact and repercussion would not only adversely affect the state’s security but also foreign investments and the tourism industry, where the bulk of the nation’s income comes from.
“Killing by firearms is a brutal crime and cannot be tolerated. If incidences like these cannot be brought under control, it will send a negative perception on our international image and will cast doubts which will have an adverse negative impact and repercussions on foreign investments and also tourism.”
Five killings by firearms had happened from last week. On July 28 in Ipoh, Jasrafveenderjeet Singh, 25, died due to a gunshot wound in the neck, while on the next day, Arab Malaysian Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi was killed in Kuala Lumpur.
Two days after that (Wednesday), a factory van driver N Jeevandran, was killed in Parit Buntar, Perak.
Last Saturday, Balamurali Balakrishnan died after he was shot four times while napping at his home in Kajang. On the same day, a 44-year-old businessman was killed in a drive by shooting as he walked out of an Indian Muslim coffee shop at Beverly Hill commercial complex in Penampang, Sabah.
Besides that, there were also attempted murder cases such as the one involving the chairman of MyWatch Sri Sanjeevan Ramakrishnan G Santhanasamy in Bukit Mertajam and shooting of a gold dealer Wong Foo Yui in Pandan Indah.
“Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar gave his assurance that police would step up security enforcement but the pertinent issue now is why are there firearms on the ground with unauthorised people?” Voon questioned.