SANDAKAN – How common is the “bakakok” threat? That is the question on the minds of Sabahans, following a recent proposal by the state police chief for a gun factory to be built in Tawau to prevent illegal home-made firearms from being produced in the state.
Bakakok is a local slang for home-made gun, and its widespread use in Sabah is the bane of state top cop Datuk Hazani Ghazali’s life, as his team has been dealing with criminal activities involving locally produced firearms. But will his idea of a gun factory solve the problem?
Tawau-based wildlife conservationist Iqmal – as he wishes to be known – said it is common for oil palm plantation workers, especially undocumented migrants, to own home-made guns, which they use to hunt wild boars and deer.
“It is an open secret that most plantations have people who own home-made guns, with spare parts coming from Kalimantan, Indonesia, usually through illegal river crossing in Tawau.
I was once told that I need to pay only RM5,000 to get a home-made gun.”
Local engineer Mohd Noor Ezral, 34, who has worked in various plantations in the east coast of Sabah, confirmed that workers there have home-made guns that they use to hunt during their free time.
However, bakakok is mostly used at large oil palm estates in the state’s interior, he added.
He said there has yet to be an incident involving the gun’s use at his current workplace in Lahad Datu, which is near a main road leading to town where police presence and inspections are common.
The dangerous bakakok
Sabah has reported many cases where police have arrested home-made gun owners, especially along the east coast.
According to sources, a bakakok is easy to make and sold in the black market for about RM700 to RM5,000, depending on its quality. It resembles and works like a shotgun.
Although it is usually used for hunting, a bakakok is not safe as there have been reports of the weapon causing casualties.
In November 2018, a 33-year-old man at Kg Berayong in Telupid tried to shoot his brother with a bakakok, but accidentally shot his 60-year-old mother in the chest, causing serious injuries.
In October 2019, a 40-year-old man at Kg Linayukan in Tongod was shot dead with a home-made gun by a drunken man following a heated argument at a birthday party.
In January last year, a farmer in Telupid accidentally shot his wife with a bakakok, gravely wounding her.
In March last year, an oil palm plantation worker was shot dead with a home-made gun by three drunken men at his hostel in Beluran.
Licensing dilemma
Hazani explained that a gun factory will allow individuals who wish to own a firearm to go through a proper and legal channel to get them – including a gun licence.
He said gun license holders must obey rules and regulations, including using the firearm only for self-protection.
While past tragedies involving bakakok might have been avoided with a gun licence, police may face difficulty in getting home-made gun owners to “convert” to owning a legal firearm.
“How are police going to make bakakok owners give up their weapons that are good to go, and apply for a gun licence instead?” asked Iqmal.
“They should focus on catching people with illegal weapons first. Once they have that under control, then they can consider setting up a gun factory.
“Otherwise, it will only make the situation worse. People will still have their home-made guns, and given access to more guns.”
Also, he said, because bakakok is mainly used for hunting and poaching, there is no chance that the owners will apply for a gun licence.
This is because they are allowed to hunt only wild boars and jungle fowl, subject to approval from Sabah police and Wildlife Department, he added.
“It is too early to make such a proposal; it will not work.” – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
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