PENAMPANG: Over 60 firearms kept for 15 years at the Penampang district police headquarters' weapons storage here, were disposed today.
The disposal involved 54 shotguns, four rifles, a spare gun, and a revolver.
Penampang district police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Haris Ibrahim said all of the firearms were owned by members of the public and were not claimed by their registered owners.
"We have a record of 91 firearms in the store and some of them have not been claimed since 2005.
"We have disposed off 60 firearms today. For the rest of the firearms, we will give more time for the owners to claim them," Mohd Haris told reporters today.
He said the police had the right to dispose off firearms that were not claimed within six months under Section 27 (2) of the Firearms Act 1950.
Mohd Haris said notice of claim had been handed over through a dialogue programme with firearm owners in March for them to take the necessary steps within three months.
He said it involved the process of transferring ownership of the firearms.
"However, most of these owners are from security companies and individuals who no longer want to keep the firearms," he said.
Mohd Haris said the disposal was a proactive move by the headquarters' weaponry logistics and licensing unit to provide more storage space for firearms owned by the police force and the public.