At a press conference, Saifuddin maintained that public safety was the top priority of his ministry and its enforcement agencies, particularly the police.

“The message from my ministry to the public is clear: we will guarantee your safety. Public order is our utmost priority, and we assure you that the country’s security is under control.

“There is no need for panic over this isolated incident,” he said.

Saifuddin also praised the police for their swift response to the shooting, particularly their expediency in profiling and identifying the suspect, saying this reflected the force’s high competency and readiness.

“If the police were not competent, we would still be struggling to identify the suspect. But the reality is, we were able to do so in a very short period of time.”

Acknowledging public concern over the use of firearms in the incident, Saifuddin said Malaysia had strict gun control measures in place.

He said Malaysians must have a licence to own a firearm, and that owning one without a permit is a serious criminal offence, punishable by up to seven years in jail.

The minister added that the authorities had a rigorous process for those applying for firearms permits, with applicants vetted at multiple levels, including by Bukit Aman and the home ministry.

However, he said the Setia Alam shooting showed a need to review the training modules of security guards and auxiliary policemen.

“Security guards, including auxiliary police, receive their basic training based on police modules. However, this incident has given us a new perspective. It is time to update and enhance the training syllabus for private security companies and auxiliary police,” he said.

Saifuddin said he would instruct the inspector-general of police to review the training syllabus to ensure that security personnel are better equipped to handle such incidents.

Yesterday, Bukit Aman said the gunman, who is in his 30s, was suspected to have been under the influence of drugs at the time. His motive has yet to be determined.

The suspect has been identified, with police saying he has a record of 11 drug and criminal offences. However, they have yet to disclose his identity.

Further investigations are ongoing as part of efforts to track down the gunman.