The recent spate of gun-related violence plaguing the country are mostly gang-related wars, experts said.

However, while the targets are often gangsters or those who have ties with the underworld, there is a concern that stray bullets may hit innocent bystanders.

"If stray bullets hit members of the public, that could prove to be very dangerous," criminologist Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim told Malaysiakini.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Dr P Sundramoorthy concurred, but said the people should not worry too much about it.

"We need to be concerned, but not live in fear," Sundramoorthy said.

This is where the criminologist began to differ in opinion.

Sundramoorthy was more positive of the current situation, but Shahul Hamid was more cautious.

"Members of the public should be worried, they (criminals) are becoming even braver, shooting in the public," Shahul Hamid said.

He also said there is concern that hitmen are being hired to gun down people, due to revenge, or other cases in which someone may want someone dead.

However, Sundramoorthy rubbished this notion, saying the use of hitmen was an anomaly, insisting most shootings were carried out by gangsters against other gangsters.

However, both of them agreed that law enforcement needs to be stepped up, and that relevant laws such as the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) should be put to use to deal with crime.

The nation has been shocked by numerous shootings in the past two months, with the latest incident taking place yesterday, when an alleged underworld figure was gunned down in Setapak.