The problem of gangsterism in Sibu, Sarawak's timber-rich town, is becoming a major concern to the local community who fear for the innocent if the police fail to act more decisively, said several local residents.

One resident, who asked not to be identified, told malaysiakini that several incidents involving gangsters had occurred in the town in recent weeks.

They involved rival gangs settling scores among themselves or seeking revenge by resorting to damaging properties and trying to put fear in and possibly harm innocent family members.

"It (gangsterism) is moving into the community. It is becoming a serious social problem," he said.

Links with Datuk

According to the police, there are several gangs known by various names with more than 120 members operating within the Sibu area.

Sibu MP Robert Lau (photo left) admitted that the gangsterism problem in Sibu is more serious than many other places in the country, but denied that Sibu is infested with gangsters.

The Sibu gangs are also said to have links with Datuk Tee Yam, a notorious triad leader in Peninsular Malaysia who has been detained.

Bukit Aman CID director Musa Hassan was reported in the New Straits Times last week as saying that a total of 40 criminal cases involving murders, loan sharking, smuggling, extortion arson and kidnapping had occurred in Sibu and had not been solved.

He also blasted Sibu Division police chief Sebastian Gaong and his men for their inaction. Bukit Aman has since sent men to Sibu to investigate the unsolved serious crimes.

Gaong was not immediately available for comments. He and his deputy are said to be reaching retirement age. It is not known whether they will remain in their present positions or whether they will be taking up transfer postings.

Following Bukit Aman intervention, about a dozen of the gang members in Sibu were arrested but more than 20 have since been released after being remanded.

Looking for Ah Kang

Sarawak CID Chief Abdul Razak Hassan told a local newspaper many gang members on the police wanted list are still on the run.

He believed that once police is able to nab one of the gang leaders known as Ah Kang, a former police banisher, it would be easier to identify the rest of the gang members. Ah Kang is also on the wanted list in connection with the death of a fruit seller.

A businessman in his 40s was also killed in front of his house at 2 o'clock this morning in Sibu, according to reports. He was attacked by a group comprising 10 to 15 people, the motive of which was not immediately known.

Lau, who is also deputy minister of housing and local government, was quoted in the Sarawak Tribune today as saying that feedbacks from the public indicated Sibu residents were reluctant to come forward with information for the police.

"There must be a reason for this and we must find out what it is," he was quoted as saying.

He described the recent spate of incidents in Sibu as "largely due to infighting among the gangsters over business deals."