JOHOR BARU: The army is investigating allegations that soldiers had smuggled unlicensed firearms into the country on a military plane after purchasing them during an overseas peacekeeping mission.
Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said allegations were grave.
"It is still under investigation. I wouldn't want to speculate on things.
"However, we are looking into this matter very seriously and will not tolerate any misconduct by any soldier if it's proven," he told the New Straits Times.
Earlier, it was reported that seven soldiers believed to be commandos were arrested for hunting with unlicensed firearms at a forest in Kampung Baru Dalam in Kluang on Saturday.
Police arrested the men and seized three shotguns and 18 rounds of ammunition found in a truck registered to the army.
The men, aged between 34 and 39, were remanded for five days for unlawful possession of firearms.
A whistleblower site had alleged that the shotguns were purchased by one of the men in police custody while on duty in Lebanon during a United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2020 and was brought into the country on a military plane.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has been going on since 1978. Malaysian joined peacekeepers from other nations in 2007 and has been sending soldiers there ever since.