960414

Malaysia cracks

down on arms

smuggling

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities are cracking down on an arms smuggling said to involve policemen, and have even frozen new gun licences and recalled arms.

Since the arrest of a prominent Malaysian businessmen in Taiwan last month on suspicion of smuggling arms, police have begun unravelling the syndicate's operations. A former champion shooter has been jailed for arms dealing.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Home Minister, admitted the government had not been vigilant enough when issuing gun permits, as the probe into the scandal widened.

"Sometimes, we are too lax. There are too many who lose their firearms because they don't look after them properly," Mahathir was quoted saying by the Sunday Times.

Police said they believed the gun smuggling extended well beyond Teo and Chin. "Investigations revealed that it was only the tip of the iceberg," Abdul Rahim said.-AFP