Stop depicting shooting as racial issue, says Baru

Baru (second left) speaks to the media as PKR Sarawak vice chairman See Chee How (first left) and others look on.

KUCHING: PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian has called for a stop to social media posts depicting the late Bill Kayong @ Mohd Hasbie Abdullah murder as a racial issue.

He said the focus on the case should be on the crime, and not on any other matters which can only add to the frustration of the deceased’s family members and friends.

“Everyone is anxious to find answers and for the matter to be resolved as soon as possible. We’d just like to ask people to be calm, and be rational about the whole thing.

“We don’t want this matter to be referred to as racial issue, especially on social media, so let us focus on the fact that this is criminal in nature.

“We are appealing for calm in the midst of all this anxiety. We know this has been very frustrating to family members and close friends and we hope the police will really do their best,” Baru said at a press conference today (June 24).

Baru, who is also Ba Kelalan assemblyman, was referring to posts on social media, especially in Facebook pages, which contained racist remarks.

He also called on the state government to make some kind of stand regarding the case, including to respond to suggestions for a reward to be offered to witnesses to assist with the investigations.

“We understand the Chief Minister is the chairman of the State Security Council, and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan is chairman of the state MCPF (Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation). We have not heard any statement from them thus far.

“We would like to hear from them too because this involves the state of Sarawak. I’m sure they too are very concerned with the crime rate and activities in the state.

“Probably it would be good for them to make some kind of stand on the matter or even (the suggestion of a) reward,” he said.

The PKR Miri branch secretary and Native Customary Rights (NCR) activist was gunned down in his car while he waiting at the traffic light interchange at the Kuala Baram bypass on June 21.

He was laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery in Lusut, Miri today.

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