KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 -- Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah holds a valid firearms licence for the shotgun used to shoot a sacrificial cow that had reportedly turned aggressive, police said, after a video of the incident sparked debate online.

In a statement today, Kangar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Yusharifuddin Mohd Yusop said checks by the district police licensing division confirmed that the firearm was legally registered to Abu Bakar.

Police have nevertheless seized the shotgun and nine buckshot cartridges as part of an investigation into the incident, which took place during a korban programme in Kuala Perlis.

The investigation was launched after police received a report from a member of the public at 4.51pm ye...