A recent report in a news portal quoted the former PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, as saying that the use of toy guns in the "Solidarity With Palestinians" programme in schools was not tantamount to promoting violence or extremist ideology.
Instead, according to him, it was just one way for students to be educated on the Palestinian struggle against Israel.
He argued that when children brought toy guns, it was to educate them about the violence in the ongoing struggle of Palestinians; his reasoning was also echoed by Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and others from Pakatan Nasional.
As such, Ahmad Fadhli urged the Education Ministry not to succumb to calls for disciplinary action against teachers or students involved in brandishing toy guns during the "Solidarity With Palestinians" programme.
To prove his point, the PAS leader cited another programme said to be organised at a Chinese-type school in Klang on Oct 20 (without any fuss) where students were seen dressed as superheroes armed with mock weapons!
Ahmad Fadhli also reportedly warned the authorities not to take action against school teachers involved in the brandishing of toy guns, if not, PN will respond accordingly by standing in solidarity with them.
So, is it perfectly okay then for primary school children to be holding toy guns in the eyes of the law? After all, the police also didn't exactly “come out with all guns blazing” over the incident, did they?
Incidentally, the popular World of Buzz website had highlighted a similar incident that happened in June 2022 whereby police were said to be tracing an “adult” cosplayer who was seen brandishing a fake gun at an "anime" festival in Petaling Jaya.
Apparently, in a video circulated on social media, a cosplayer was seen with an object that resembled a real gun tucked into his pants which he later casually brandished while walking around the fest.
Unfortunately for him, while he might have looked cool to others there, his act had gained the attention of the police who then released a statement via their Facebook page stating that they were looking for the man with the fake gun in the video. Apparently, the case was being investigated for the misuse of network facilities under Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act.
Actually, according to the official PDRM portal, it is an offence under Section 36, Weapons Act 1960 to import or own a fake or an imitation firearm. If found guilty, a jail time of not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than RM5,000 will also be imposed. But apparently, this may not apply to children!
Subject to confirmation by legal practitioners, it does seem that it's perfectly legal for children below the age of fourteen to be in possession of toy guns? So, given all the hue and cry lately over school children and teachers brandishing toy firearms - it looks like PAS may been right, after all; children are exempted!
But wait, did the law exempt the “adults”? If no, hasn't a serious offence been committed?
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