The gun laws are restrictive in Malaysia. There are two acts that control possession of guns: The Arms Act 1960 and The Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.

1. The Arms Act states that you need a license for everything relating to guns from manufacturing, import, export, repairs, to actually having it in your hands.
2. A gun license can only be granted by the Chief Police Officer of the State, albeit an exception for the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. Consideration in granting a license include a good reason for having the firearm, public safety, and public interest.
3. There are some exceptions for those needing a license: licensed arms dealers and repairers, members of the armed forces, vessel armament, auctioneers and authorized shooting gallery operators. However, for most of these exceptions, you must still obtain a written permit to handle a gun.
4. The Firearms Act, on the other hand, relates to crimes committed with a gun, such as extortion, robbery, and house-breaking. The punishment for discharging firearms in committing such crimes is the death penalty. This is also applicable if you are an accomplice.
5. In Malaysia, there are two types of gun permits that you can apply for: shotguns and handguns. A civilian is not allowed to possess automatic firearms. Handgun application includes possession of pistols and revolvers and application for possession of shotgun is slightly easier as it is less concealable.

CONSEQUENCES

1. Owning a firearm in Malaysia without a Malaysia firearm license carries strict consequences. If you exhibit the firearm for any of the scheduled offence (without discharging), then you are liable to be imprisonment for life and with whipping with not less than six strokes.
2. On the other hand, if you possess unlawful firearms, you are subject to punishments of up to 14 years of prison and possibly accompanied by whipping.
3. Threatening someone with a fake gun will make you liable for 10 years in prison with whipping with not less than three strokes.
4. Additionally, firing a gun at someone will subject you to a death penalty and this is also applicable to the accomplice(s).

STATISTICS

1. Out of a population of 30,000,000, there are approximately 888,022 legally licensed firearms owners and 1,100,000 legally registered firearms, excluding the police.
2. As of 2016, the rate of registered guns per 100 people in Malaysia is 0.55 while the rate of licensed firearm owners per 100 people in Malaysia is 0.63.