More than 40 firearms that were not claimed by their owners have been disposed of by the police in the Kudat district of Sabah on Saturday. These firearms include shotguns and rifles and have been stored in the Kudat police’s weapon storage for a while. The next-of-kin of the owners were supposed to claim the firearms, but no one came forward to do so, according to Kudat Police Chief Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim.
Mohd Haris mentioned that a variety of firearms, totaling 42, were disposed of, and he believes that many owners lost interest in claiming them. Notices were issued during a dialogue with the firearm owners in July, urging them to claim their firearms. Under Section 27(2) of the Firearms Act 1950, if the firearms were not claimed within six months, the authorities have the right to dispose of them.
According to Mohd Haris, the disposal is a proactive effort by the firearm licensing and logistics division of the Kudat police department to prevent the weapons’ storage from becoming overcrowded with firearms. In July, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun had announced a crackdown on rampant poaching occurring in the northernmost island of Banggi, situated off Kudat.
Illegal hunting of wild boar, mousedeer, pangolins, and other animals has seen a significant increase, with hunters entering the island without reporting their entry or seeking approval for hunting, as reported by Jauteh.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
