KUCHING: The state police commissioner and Miri District Office have been asked to explain how a civilian could legally own seven registered firearms together with 623 bullets.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How called on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to press for answers following the police’s seizure of the weapons from Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang’s house in Miri on Wednesday.
“The exposé of a civilian having seven registered firearms in his possession, together with 623 bullets, which has far exceeded what he is legally entitled to own, is most shocking and alarming,” See said yesterday.
The state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-chairman also expressed disappointment that, despite persistent calls by all concerned groups and individuals over the years, the state and police have yet to reveal the number of persons having possession of firearms and the number of firearms being approved in Sarawak.
“Do we have such a register that was promised to be compiled since two decades ago?” he questioned.
He said the state government should seriously look into the existing state policy and process concerning the issuance of firearms to private individuals, with a
view to have better screening and control over the approval and renewal of firearms.
“It is illogical for the Miri District Office to approve and issue permits for one individual civilian to own and have in his possession five shotguns and 623 bullets.
“The state government must lodge a police report for immediate investigation into this serious breach of duty
and reprimand those responsible,” said See.
He said the understanding was that all applications for possession of firearms made by district offices must be vetted by police on the suitability and appropriateness of the individuals.
As such, he suggested the state police commissioner should look into this case seriously.
“Were the police made aware of those applications by this one individual applicant to have five firearms? Did they sanction those applications with their knowledge that this individual has already in his possession a pistol and a rifle? Who has vetted and sanctioned those applications?
“As ownership and possession of firearms are approved in his name, the state police chief must order for an investigation into the applications of these seven firearms and seek immediate explanation from the officers involved to ensure that there will be no recurrence of such mistake and negligence,” he added.
See also called on the state and police to review the existing policy and process in applications for possession of firearms and to ensure that there would be proper and stringent scrutiny of the applicants and their need for the weapons.
Lee is one of the suspects allegedly involved in the recent murder of PKR Miri secretary Bill Kayong.
State CID chief SAC Datuk Dev Kumar had said the pistol and rifle seized were owned by Lee for his own protection with the licences issued by police, while the shotguns were for auxiliary police with licences issued by the Miri District Office.