JOHOR BARU: Police are investigating a policeman who allowed his civilian friend to hold his firearm and take pictures.
Seri Alam District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said they had learnt of the incriminating photo of the policeman in uniform with his civilian friend.
The photo is now viral on Twitter through an account under the handle @evvok.
He said preliminary investigations found that the policeman was on duty at the Taman Johor Jaya Police Station, while the man holding the HK-MP5 firearm was his friend.
"The photo was taken by a member of the public at 2.43am yesterday at the police station. When the photo was taken the policeman was on duty guarding the station," he said in a media statement today.
Mohd Sohaimi said the photo was taken as a keepsake, but it was uploaded to social media and went viral as a result.
"The civilian holding the firearm and the other civilian who took the photo are friends of the policeman who are all 25 years old.
"Allowing civilians to hold firearms while on duty is an offence that violates the police code of conduct.
"Further investigations are being carried out by our integrity division. The policeman might face action under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993," he added.
Earlier, a photo went viral showing a man in a police uniform smoking a cigarette with a civilian who was holding a gun.
Another photo shows the civilian gesturing like he was pointing the gun at the officer.