Airsoft in Malaysia – The big Picture…

Airsoft has been in Malaysia for so many years ago and in one time airsoft are always considered as a toy. Airsoft are being so unlucky because has been misused in illegal activity because most Airsoft almost resemble the actual arms. Therefore Airsoft became illegal in Malaysia under Seksyen 32 (1 hingga 3) Akta Senjatapi 1960 (Malaysian Law, Section 32(1 to 3) Arms Act 1960) and Seksyen 36 (1 hingga 3) Akta Senjatapi 1960 (Malaysian Law, Section 36 (1 to 3) Arms Act 1960).

MASOC – Malaysian Airsoft Association under its president Mr. Mohd Zamri Muhammad promoting Airsoft sports and tries to legalized airsoft in Malaysia. The proposal for airsoft to be legally registered, controlled and monitored has already been supported by several ministers in the cabinet. The only reason that airsoft is not legal yet, is to have the Associations Registrar Commission and the Sport Commission to approve and recognized airsoft as a sports and the association as the governance body.

As Airsoft to be legalized, MASOC hopes that it may help to cut off smugglers from smuggling airsoft into Malaysia and to minimized the misused of airsoft in unhealthy activity. I’ve seen positive effect from our neighboring country such as Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Indonesia has already practicing the registration of airsoft as a method of controlling and monitoring process. I does help Indonesian Airsofter became responsible more respectful to the laws as they want to keep the hobby to be legal. Filipinos are now also enjoying the benefit as the Philippines governments take the same step.

I hope one day, Malaysia will legalized airsoft. I’ve highlighted our neighboring country with no attention say that their laws are better or we should follow them. It just to say that there are positive views in airsoft. I hope the Malaysian laws on airsoft will benefit the growth and development of the Airsoft sports, airsoft awareness and to really put on arrest of misused airsoft for illegal activity.

Under the Firearms Act 1960

Definition - Imitation Arm

"imitation arm" means anything which has the appearance or is intended to give the impression of being an arm, whether it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet, missile, noxious liquid, gas or other thing, or not;

32. Penalty for use and possession of arms and imitation arms in certain cases.

(1)

(a) If any person makes or attempts to make any use whatsoever of an arm or imitation arm with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detention of himself or any other person, he shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for life or for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

(b) Where any person commits an offence under this subsection in respect of the lawful apprehension or detention of himself for any other offence committed by him, he shall be liable to the penalty provided by this subsection in addition to any penalty to which he may be sentenced for that other offence.

(2) If any person, at the time of his committing, or at the time of his apprehension for, any offence specified in the First Schedule has in his possession any arm or imitation arm, he shall, unless he shows that he had it in his possession for a lawful purpose, be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years in addition to any penalty to which he may be sentenced for the offence specified in the said Schedule.

(3) If on the trial of any person for an offence under subsection (1) the court is not satisfied that the person is guilty of that offence, but is satisfied that he is guilty of an offence under subsection
(2), the court may find him guilty of the offence under the said subsection (2), and thereupon he shall be liable to be punished accordingly.

36. Possession of and importation of imitation arms.

(1) Any person who shall import or have in his possession or custody an imitation arm shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit, or to both:
Provided that it shall not constitute an offence under this section -

(a) for a person under the age of fourteen years to possess an imitation arm; or

(b) for any person to import or be in possession of an imitation arm under and in accordance with a license, in such form as may be prescribed, issued by the Chief Police Officer of the State in which the person resides or, in the case of a person importing the arms in the ordinary course of business, in which he carries on business.

(2) It shall be lawful for a Magistrate upon the request in writing of a Chief Police Officer to order that any imitation arm be destroyed by the police, whether any person has been or could be convicted of any offence against this section or not; and no compensation shall be payable in respect of any destruction under this subsection.

(3) No prosecution under this section shall be commenced without the consent of the Public Prosecutor.