Those owning replica guns, including those used for sport such as paintball markers and air guns, will be given a month to hand them over to the police to prevent action taken against them.

Bukit Aman Police Logistics Department director Zulkifli Abdullah said only registered companies with a paid-up capital of RM400,000 or sports clubs recognised by the Malaysian sports commissioner, individuals, could apply for licences for the guns.

“Ownbership of paintball markers, airsoft guns and BB guns without a valid license or owning replica weapons is illegal according to Section 26 of the Arms Act 1960, and carries jail sentence and fine if convicted,” he said in a press conference at Bukit Aman today.

According to Zulkifli, police have investigated 47 cases involving the use of replica guns since 2012, resulting in the conviction and imprisonment of two individuals.

He added that the increasingly popular sport of paintball was one which needed to be controlled in order to alleviate the public’s fear that the equipment used could be used to hurt others.

“We do want to encourage the sport (paintball) but at the same time, we need to control it,” he stressed.

Owners of the replica weapons are required to surrender them at the nearest police station or district headquarters before December 25.

They can also contact Bukit Amam License Team staff officer Supt Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin at 03-22661041/42.