Unlicensed owners of imitation guns used for sports activities have been given a month, beginning Monday, to surrender them to the police and apply for a licence.

Bukit Aman Logistics Department director, Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said the deadline to apply for the licence was Dec 25.

He said the one-month time-frame was due to the increase in the procurement of imitation guns in shooting sports like Paintball gun Marker, Airsoft Gun and BB Gun.

He said the police, on their part, had to monitor the use of the imitation guns for fear they might be used in criminal activities.

"Application for such licence will be in accordance with the provision under Section 36 of the Firearms Act 1960 where imitation firearms refers to anything that resembles a weapon, whether or not it releases a burst of bullets, sharpnel, hazardous liquid, gas and other things," he told reporters here Monday.

Zulkifli said it was an offence if a person imported, possessed and maintained imitation weapons and if convicted, they would be punished with imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both.

He said people with imitation guns could make an application for a licence through a registered company with paid-up capital of not less than RM400,000, or a registered sports club whose expertise was recognised by the Sports Commissioner of Malaysia.

"Application for individual ownership will not be considered," he said.

Zulkifli said an application could be made by filling out a form obtained from the nearest district police headquarters (IPD) where a sports activity could be carried out, or print the Pol.128 form from the police website.

He said between last year and now, the police had investigated 47 cases involving possession of imitation guns.

Of the total, 29 people were charged under Section 36 (1) of the Firearms Act 1960 while two were convicted and imprisoned for two months.

For further inquiries, contact Staff Officer Licence Bukit Aman, Supt Norsiah Mohd Saaduddin at 03-22661041/42.