KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Defence will not compromise if any member or officer found responsible for losing their equipment or weapons.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the ministry would not hesitate to take severe action against anyone found careless with the possession of weapons.

“We have given our full cooperation to Bukit Aman, including providing information related to the case so that police can carry out a thorough investigation.

“However, we will also take action according to the law if anyone found responsible for losing their weapons which may fall in the hands of the public,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from United States Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus at Wisma Pertahanan here.

Thursday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the Steyr assault rifle used in a bank robbery at Taman Muda, Ampang, last Tuesday, was believed to be owned by an army officer.

In the attempted robbery on Tuesday, the robber who tried to escape with RM253,000 from a bank was shot dead by a security guard and police later recovered the rifle from the robber.