Prop guns OK in private spaces but not in public, say cops

PETALING JAYA: Orange tape or not, if a prop gun is used in the public domain, the police will view that as an offence.

When contacted, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Fakhruddin made it clear that once it leaves a confined event space, anything that can be construed as a firearm would be viewed seriously by the police.

"I understand it’s an anime festival and if it is within the private space and the proper permits are done for that event, the police are ok.

"But when you take it out in public then that is not allowed.

"Yes, even if any colour tape is attached to it, if it’s in public the police can take action," he said.

In a statement on Wednesday (May 18), another cosplayer was in hot water after police launched investigations following a video of him waving an object that resembled a weapon in public.

The anime, cosplay and games convention over the weekend in Paradigm Mall has caught the attention of district police again.

"On May 17 at 5.30pm, the police received a video showing a man walking around with an object that resembled a weapon tucked in his pants.

"A report was lodged following that and the video is known to have been taken during the event that lasted from May 13 to 16," said ACP Mohamad Fakhruddin in a statement on Wednesday.

Investigations were being conducted under the Communications and Multimedia Act.

"We are tracing down both the owner of the social media page and the individuals seen in the video," he said.

When contacted for more information, ACP Mohamad Fakhruddin said that the police have to investigate if the suspect seen was just fooling around as a fictional character or not.

"Yes this is something we must investigate also," he said.

The event previously caught the attention of the police following a complaint by a female cosplayer and livestreamer that had been attacked at her booth.

She said that a policeman had been rude and insinuated that she was partly responsible for the incident due to the way she was dressed.

District police have confirmed an internal investigation on the policeman was being conducted.