A MAN in his 30s has been arrested in Sungai Petani after allegedly pointing a firearm at his elderly neighbour during a confrontation at their homes in Bandar Laguna Merbok this morning.
Kuala Muda District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Hanyan Ramla, said police received a distress call at 8.45 am from a senior citizen reporting that she had been threatened by a man wielding what appeared to be a pistol.
A team from the Kuala Muda District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department was deployed to the scene, where officers arrested the suspect and seized the object believed to be the weapon.
“Police conducted a search of the man at the house and we recovered the object in question, which is believed to be the weapon involved,” Hanyan said when met at the scene.
He added that initial investigations suggest the incident stemmed from ongoing tensions between the suspect and his neighbour, following a series of previous disputes.
Police are now determining whether the man lawfully possessed the firearm. “We will conduct a thorough investigation to establish whether he holds a licence, has no licence, or is in illegal possession of the weapon,” Hanyan said.
The suspect has been detained for further investigation under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The 72-year-old victim, who requested anonymity, recounted that the suspect suddenly appeared and kicked her gate before brandishing the pistol at her door. She said he later kicked the door again before retreating to sit behind the house, calmly drinking coffee.
“I don’t know… he does whatever he wants. If he wants to be angry, he gets angry. We just stay quiet. We have been patient, very patient. This morning, I called his mother and said I couldn’t take it anymore. I told her I didn’t want this to continue,” she said.
The victim claimed that the suspect had verbally abused her several times previously and she remained unaware of the reason behind his behaviour.
Still shaken after having a firearm pointed at her, she said she is leaving it to the police to take appropriate action against the suspect. - December 7, 2025
