Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Cabinet has agreed that there is a need to arm AKPS personnel following a February shooting involving AKPS Bukit Kayu Hitam commander Nasaruddin Nasir, who survived the attempt on his life.

“There are various options, such as taser guns or light weapons like pistols. Both options are being studied by the home ministry’s secretary-general in line with Cabinet instructions, which I have conveyed for implementation.

“Whether they are equipped first with taser guns or pistols, or both, is still being studied by the ministry’s secretary-general,” Saifuddin said at a press conference here today.

He said the matter cannot be delayed any further given the high-risk nature of AKPS’s duties.

Nasaruddin was on his way to perform subuh prayers when two men dressed in black, riding a motorcycle and wearing full-face helmets, approached his car at about 5.40am on Feb 25.

One of them fired two shots, hitting the car’s rear right door and front passenger door.

Nasaruddin, who was driving alone, pursued the suspects for about 1km, after which they fled into a nearby industrial area.

He then drove to the police station at the immigration, customs, quarantine and security complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam to lodge a report.

Ten members of the “Geng Pak Su” smuggling syndicate, and a member of the General Operations Force in Bukit Kayu Hitam were arrested in connection with the shooting.