The state government has warned Native Customary Right landowners in Sarawak to be on full alert over tactics by gangsters to make profits by forcing owners to sell their land through dubious means.

Second state Minister for Planning and Resource Management Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said these gangsters would not hesitate to use aggressive tactics to manipulate and cheat landowners.

Without divulging further details, Awang Tengah said the state government has already received reports on cases involving land owners who had been either cheated or forced to sell their land.

"These things have happened in a few areas in Bekenu," he told reporters after opening RTM Sarawak's family day in Kuching today adding that the state government would monitor the situation closely.

On the death of deputy transport minister and Sibu MP for five terms, Robert Lau, yesterday morning after a long battle with liver cancer, he said it was a big loss for the country because Lau had been known to be a committed politician who put the interest of the people first since winning the seat in 1990.

- Bernama