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Sarawak in shock over ‘mafia-style’ killing of PKR politician

KUCHING — The murder of prominent Sarawak native-rights activist and opposition politician Bill Kayong sent shockwaves through the state on Tuesday (June 22), with federal police swiftly forming a special task force to find the killer.

The scene of the drive-by shooting in Miri in which PKR member Bill Kayong was murdered. Photo: Facebook

The scene of the drive-by shooting in Miri in which PKR member Bill Kayong was murdered. Photo: Facebook

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KUCHING — The murder of prominent Sarawak native-rights activist and opposition politician Bill Kayong sent shockwaves through the state on Tuesday (June 22), with federal police swiftly forming a special task force to find the killer.

Kayong, 43, was shot in the neck on Tuesday morning by an unknown assailant with a shotgun while stopped at a Miri intersection in his white pick-up truck.

Kayong had stood for election, unsuccessfully, as a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate in last month’s Sarawak state election. He was found slumped in his Toyota truck, which still bore the PKR election logo.

Malaysia’s Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar said a special task force headed by the Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department Chief was investigating the murder and they would be aided by CID officers from headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. “We cannot ascertain the motive of the shooting at the moment,” he said.

Indigenous organisations urged police to quickly arrest the killer.

“This senseless act had caused deep anger among members of the Dayak community as such act is akin to stirring a hornet’s nest while at the same time, testing Dayaks’ resolve,” said a group of 13 non-governmental organisations in a joint statement read out at a news conference on Tuesday by Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association president Dusit Jaul.

“We want to put on record that Kayong did not die in vain. He died as a Dayak hero. He gave his life for Dayaks’ struggles and he will always be remembered by the whole Dayak community,” they said.

Asked about a possible motive, Dr Dusit declined to comment. “Let the police do their investigation,” he said.

Kayong was secretary of the Sarawak Dayak Association (Pedas) and helped native land owners fight oil palm companies trying to take over their land. He was also Miri secretary of PKR and made a bid for the Bekenu seat in the May 7 state election but lost to ruling Barisan Nasional coalition candidate Rosey Yunus.

His friends reacted to his murder on a community chat group on
WhatsApp called “Dayak News”.

“Bill, you have fought your battle. It shall never stop here,” said lawyer Francis Tero.

Mr Enjop Jelom wrote: “Though he is gone, but remember his deeds. Let’s continue his fight for justice.”

Kayong’s death puts the spotlight on Malaysia’s national security and the country’s gun laws, with opposition Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir saying it was baffling how the “mafia-style” murder could take place when the country has such strict legislation on gun ownership.

“Amanah expresses concern over the apparent increase in such brutal high-profile murders in recent times. If this had happened in the United States, it may not have been that surprising because their government policy permits citizens to own guns. But what is baffling is how these
mafia-style murderers can operate in our country as though it were that simple to own a gun, when local laws are so restrictive when it comes to gun ownership,” he said.

He urged the police to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into Kayong’s murder, saying the authorities must make sure to leave no stone unturned and look down “every wormhole” to ensure the killer is caught.

Kayong was once personal secretary to Miri PKR Member of Parliament Michael Teo, who was assaulted outside his clinic in May last year. The attacker bashed Dr Teo from behind with a baseball bat before fleeing in a car without a number plate, leaving the doctor with broken collar bones. No one has been arrested in connection with Dr Teo’s assault.

As secretary of Pedas, Kayong worked to protect those whose native land was being encroached upon by plantation companies.

On May 4 last year, after Mr Idris Jala, chief of the federal government’s efficiency unit Pemandu, declared poverty in Malaysia to be nearly wiped out, Kayong challenged Mr Idris to visit Sarawak’s interior and see directly the hard life faced by its impoverished people.

Kayong and Pedas also demonstrated outside a school to protest the conversion of a 13-year-old Catholic girl to Islam by two Muslim teachers without her parents’ knowledge. The two teachers were transferred and the girl’s conversion cancelled. AGENCIES

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