Armed Islamic enforcement officers soon if proposal approved, says Minister

Islamic enforcement officers from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) may soon carry firearms if a proposal for them to be armed is approved, according to a report today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (pic) said the move was in light of the recent murder of a religious officer in Kuantan.

"This is among the measures being considered to ensure the safety of the officers," said Jamil, as quoted by the Star Online.

Acknowledging that equipping them with firearms may not be the best solution, Jamil said priority must be given to the safety of officers.

As part of the measure, Jamil said Jakim is also considering regular police patrols at its officers' home to assure them of their safety.

On November 10, Pahang Islamic Religious Department chief Ahmad Raffli Abdul Malek was shot dead at his house in Indera Mahkota 2, Kuantan.

Raffli, 49, was shot dead at point blank range by a man described as wearing a kopiah (skullcap), and whose photofit was released by the police today.

Pahang police chief Datuk Sharifudin Ab Ghani said the photofit was of the first suspect who entered the compound of the victim's house before greeting Raffli.

"The suspect was believed to be attired in black and wore a skull cap, had brown skin with white hair and moustache, a beard, muscular body, fine eyebrows, medium nose and thin lips," he told reporters today, adding that the photofit was 70% accurate.

A sect called Tuhan Harun (Harun the god) is believed to be behind the killing.

Jamil said these groups were hard to contain as they operate under the radar.