Yesterday's cold-blooded shooting of a lawyer described as "a good man" by an unknown gunman in a Kuching street has raised concern about the state of law and order in Sarawak.

According to an eye-witness account, a pillion rider on a motor-cycle wearing a black jacket and jeans and full-faced helmet, pumped bullets at close range at 54-year-old Fabian Lim Ann Haow and his wife who were getting in their car after an early dinner at a nearby restaurant yesterday. The incident took place at about 6.30pm.

Sarawak Advocates Association Kuching branch head Kilat Beriak who described Lim as "a good man" said the murder is shocking and scary.

The Kuching community is shocked, he said.

Only two days earlier, a contractor Tan Kok Chiang was killed in Batu Kawa Old Town near Kuching. Police have arrested 15 suspects, including a teenaged girl, in connection with the murder.

On Feb 2 in Miri, politician Julian Jolly's 52-year-old wife was allegedly stabbed to death in her home. After several days of search, police arrested their adopted daughter Christina and ex-boyfriend Yii Soo Ho.

Yesterday, Christina was freed and Yii was charged for the murder.

Opposition Sarawak Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis, when contacted, said the lawyer's killing in broad daylight in the street appeared to be an indication of growing lawlessness.

"I hope the police will go all out to find the killer(s)," he said.

Escalating into violence

A company executive who asked not to be identified described such killings for whatever reason as an indication that "the society is escalating into violence."

Lim died from the wounds on arrival at hospital while his wife suffered slight injuries in the arm by a stray bullet. From the slugs, police say a semi-automatic revolver was used in the shooting, said to be the first ever on a lawyer in Sarawak.

The executive said: "What's frightening is the means now available to get rid of people."

The police would have to work extra hard to find clues to the killing and nail the killers quickly otherwise there could be an erosion of public confidence in the maintenance of law and order, he added.

Lim, described as a senior member of the legal fraternity, is said to handle only civil cases. He is survived by his wife and three children, two of whom are still studying overseas.