The German-made Walther P99 semi-automatic pistol (left) will replace the old .38 Smith & Wesson revolver.
Test firing a Walther P99 pistol
A .38 Smith & Wesson revolver
Test firing a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver
Source - New Straits Times Online 11 May 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: Rank-and-file policemen will soon no longer have to lug around their old .38 Smith & Wesson revolvers.
The revolvers will soon be replaced by German-made Walther P99 9mm semi-automatic pistols as part of initiatives to upgrade the force.
It is understood that the first batch of 13,000 Walther P99 pistols was recently distributed to police contingents nationwide, with emphasis on Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor.
A police source said the four contingents were given priority due to the higher crime rates there.
It is learnt a second batch of Walther P99s is expected to arrive in Malaysia within the next two or three months.
"Presently, priority is given to policemen in the frontline such as those on beat or patrol duty.
"This also includes personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Special Action Unit," the source revealed.
It is understood there are currently about 30,000 .38 Smith & Wesson revolvers being used by the force.
"A study was conducted about two years ago involving senior police officers and Home Ministry officials. The results of the study concluded that the Walther P99 was one of the best firearms in the market," the source revealed.
"Although the old .38 Smith & Wesson revolvers will be phased out, they will not be discarded as enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries are showing an interest in a possible trade-off."
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the police were allocated a sum of RM6 billion.
The source disclosed that about RM145 million had been set aside for the purchase of firearms such as rifles, sub-machine guns and the Walther P99.
Federal Logistics Department director Datuk Mashuri Zainal told the New Straits Times that policemen in several European countries also used the Walther P99 as the standard issue firearm.
The P99 was developed by Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market.
The pistol is presently used by the German police in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Polish police and the Finnish army's special forces and military police.
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