Police do not intend to propose to the government a ban on acid sales despite the cases of the chemical being used as a weapon.

Deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said it would be difficult to implement a ban as the chemical was widely used by the public for various purposes.

"It's impossible for us to ban acid as it an item used daily, just like chilli powder which was once used by criminals to rob," he told reporters after launching a ‘Balik Kampung' campaign in conjunction with Aidilfitri organised by the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation at the Sunway Pyramid shopping mall in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

He said any move to control the chemical substance was also not reasonable as acid usage was already regulated.

"While there are regulations to control caustic acid, regular acid is too widely used to be controlled," he added.

Detergent, other substances also used

NONE Khalid ( left) also stressed that police would take action against acid splashers under the ordinance for causing hurt and investigate them under Section 324 and Section 326 of the Penal Code.

When asked about the total number of acid splashing reports , he said there were over 20 had been lodged in the Klang Valley.

However, the liquid used was not acid but a mixture of floor cleaning detergent and other substances which caused skin irritation.

On whether acid splashing was becoming a criminal trend now, he dismissed the assumption  as not being right as there had already been such cases in the past where acid was used as a weapon.

"In the past, such cases were not highlighted but they are now being played up as if it is a trend.

"The acid-related cases are given special attention as they are happening almost everyday in Kuala Lumpur. So be patient, we are tracking down the culprit. The latest photofit is already out," he said.

Khalid said no witness had come forward to help nail down the acid splasher despite the appeal by police.

‘Latest photofit already out'

A case reported on July 26 involved a despatch rider who was splashed with a liquid, believed to be acid, at a petrol station in Sungai Besi before being robbed of RM18,000.

Another case occurred at a public toilet near Wisma Bumi Raya, Jalan Raja Laut, on Aug 8 where a 27-year-old youth was splashed with acid by a member of a group of three.

On a video over the social network, YouTube, showing a traffic policeman receiving a bribe from a Singaporean driver at a highway in the country, he said police would be taking stern action against the errant policeman.

"We have detected the wayward member in Pagoh, Johor and are in the process of detaining him," he said.

The video lasting three minutes and 10 seconds was a main news item in Singapore lately.

- Bernama