SHAH ALAM: Early in December, last year, IGP TS Razaruddin Hussain announced that the Home Ministry has approved an allocation of RM22 million for the procurement of vehicles, anti-riot dogs and firearms for the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU).

The FRU had also procured items for the FRU personnel from flame retardant belts and boots and inner t-shirts.

Among the firearms to be bought for the FRU were 173 riot guns to replace the current service weapon, the Federal Riot Gun, which were procured – likely – in the 1980s.

On July 25, the Home Ministry Procurement Division floated a tender for 538 riot guns for the FRU, Light Strike Force (LSF) and the Provisional Reserve Unit (PORU). LSF is made-up of personnel from the district police headquarters trained and equipped for anti-riot duties while the PORU is a similar unit made up from General Operations Force (GOF) personnel.

Both the LSF and PORU could also be used to augment FRU units on operations and vice versa. Do note that there is no FRU unit based in Sarawak and Sabah which meant that regular police units and the GOF would be deployed for anti-riot operations.

Anyhow the indicative cost for the 538 riot guns is RM8.6 million.

Some of the specifications of the tender:

The gas gun launcher shall have a single shot barrel.
1.2 collapsible and folding stock.
1.3 Calibre of the gas gun launcher shall be 40mm.
1.4 have smooth bore or rifled barrel.
1.5 The operation system of the gas gun launcher shall be a single fire.
1.6 The gas gun launcher shall be able to fire all 37/38mm to 40mm CS
Rounds ammunition :
1.7 The gas gun able to fire 37/38 mm existing in PDRM stock. Failed to fire
shall be rejected.
1.8 The gas gun launcher shall be designed with break open frame 70
between 90 degrees to allow for quick loading and unloading ammunitions.
1.9 The gas gun launcher shall be supply with detachable fore grip.
1.10 The gas gun launcher shall have 4 picatinny rails on each side of barrel.
1.11 The gas gun Launcher Barrel length shall be 350 ± 10 mm
1.12 The Gas gun launcher overall length from the butt extended shall be 770
± 10 mm and butt not extended shall be 690 ± 10 mm.
1.13 The gas gun launcher length with the butt folded shall be 460 ± 10 mm
1.14 The gas gun launcher shall not weight more than 2kg ± 100g if unloaded.
1.15 The Gas gun launcher Barrel material shall be made of durable material
to assist with recoil management increase barrel life.
1.16 The gas gun launcher shall come equipped with fixed front sights and
rear ring to assist aiming.
1.17 The gas gun launcher shall be designed with safety mechanism.
1.18 Shall be provided a quick detach sling with mounts on the buttstock.
1.19 The gas gun launcher shall have ambidextrous barrel release system.
1.20 The gas gun launcher shall be made from aluminum alloy to withstand
rough usage and the design must be ergonomic, durable and easy to use.
1.21 The gas gun launcher shall be able to be used in all-weather conditions
especially in hot tropical climate

Based on the specifications above, one may assume that the police are looking for a modern version of the FRG which is a single shot and break open gun. The new firearm should also be capable of firing ammo currently in stock – the 37mm/38mm CS grenade – as well as the newer 40mm round.

The FRU and PORU units are also equipped with the CZ 527 bolt action rifle for anti-riot operations. It is likely that new bolt action rifles will be procured to replace them as the IGP had also stated that they will be buying such firearms. Police personnel are usually not issued with automatic firearms during anti-riot operations.

— Malaysian Defence

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