They are not only cheap but easily available: this is the picture portrayed on two Facebook accounts found to be selling firearms openly in Malaysia.

A check by Bernama found that a Facebook account claimed to offer a range of pistols, revolvers and assault rifles for between RM500 and RM15,000.

The list of weapons for sale on the account included AK-47 assault rifles, at RM12,000, Smith & Wesson pistols, at RM500, and revolvers with two boxes of ammunition, at RM15,000.

Another Facebook account declared that it could offer about 10 types of firearms, among them E&C M16A4, Tercel M1911 airsoft gun and S&T Mosin Nagant Gas Rifle (Real Wood) for between RM600 and RM1,250, resembling real weapons.

The Facebook account was opened in February and received '688 likes' and showed 141 browsers having an ongoing discussion on the weapons.

The account owner also boldly provided a mobile phone number and responded to Bernama's text message.

The discovery of these two Facebook accounts raises a host of questions about how easy it is to buy firearms through the Internet, especially in the present scenario of an increasing trend in fatal shootings reported lately.

Just in July there were two shootings. Teacher Mat Zaki Hashim, 35, was critically injured when he was shot in the neck on July 5 near Kampung Kubang Panjang, Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

Then, on July 28, Mywatch chairman R. Sri Sanjeevan was left fighting for his life after being shot by two gunmen on a motorbike in Taman Cempaka, Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, and a day later, AmBank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi became the third victim when he was shot dead while coming out of a temple with his wife at Lorong Ceylon, near here.

Asked to comment on the Facebook accounts, Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the police would not hesitate to investigate the matter thoroughly under Section 11 of the Firearms Act.

"Selling firearms without a licence is a serious offence," he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the account holders appeared to be blatant and prepared to risk the law to sell firearms on the Internet.

"As a country with strict laws on the subject, the authorities should take stern action against such quarters so that it would deter other offenders," he said.