Zahid has consented to exclude paintball markers from Arms Act, says Khairy

MALACCA: Licenses for paintball guns will not be a requirement for much longer, as the Home Minister has decided to exclude it from the Arms Act 1960.

"Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid (Hamidi) has informed me that he, as the Minister, has decided to exempt paintball markers in the Act," said Youth and Sport Minister Khairy Khairy Jamaluddin here Sunday.

However, Khairy said the process of exemption would take time as it involved many procedures, including intense scrutiny by the Ministry's legal division.

The second round of the National Paintball League, scheduled to begin here Saturday, was cancelled because it fell foul of the Act.

Khairy said the cancellation of the event should not have happened.

"I understand the police were only carrying out their duties... but I really hope that no more raids will be held until the exemption process for paintball markers is completed," he said.

He said this was because continuous raids would affect public enthusiasm towards the sport.

He also believed that paintball markers, though listed in the Act, would not be rampantly used to commit crimes.

Last November, police gave one month's notice to owners of fake firearms, especially those being used in shooting sports such as paintball, air soft guns and ball bearing guns, to surrender the weapons or apply for licences as required under the Act. - Bernama