(AFP) Selangor may give district officers firearms after many received death threats amid a blitz on pirated and pornographic VCDs, a report said today.

The state government was discussing the proposal with police to arm its enforcement officers to "deal with thugs and gangsters," The Star newspaper said.

Local government, environment, housing and squatter committee chairman Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan told the daily that 13 death threats had been received so far.

The threats, which came in various forms including letters, short text messages on mobile phones and phone calls, were warnings to the officers not to raid video arcades and pirated VCD outlets, he said.

"Our enforcement officers have to do their jobs without having proper weapons to protect themselves. These people are putting themselves in danger when they go out during raids," Mokhtar said.

The officers now carry batons for self-defence. Once the proposal is approved, he said they would be trained to handle the weapons.

Criminal gangs

The New Straits Times said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the latest target of a death threat, in the form of a knife wrapped in a warning note.

Selangor chief minister Mohamad Khir Toyo, several state assemblymen and local council chiefs have also received threats, the daily said.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home minister in charge of police, said it was clear that the illegal traders were linked to "criminal elements."

Abdullah said the government planned to introduce stiffer penalties against those producing and selling pornographic materials.

The Malay-language Berita Harian said under proposed amendments, offenders could face a mandatory jail term and a fine of up to RM50,000.

At present, they can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for six months or both.

Cheap pornographic video compact discs have been blamed for the increase in rape cases in Malaysia. Police have launched a nationwide crackdown on pornography and are to use internal banishment orders against offenders.