This morning, activist and PKR election candidate Bill Kayong was gunned down in broad daylight in Miri while driving a four-wheel drive bearing the party's logo.
The 43-year-old father of two was killed on the spot and the assailant is believed to have used a shotgun.
Since the incident occurred near a busy intersection, the police are appealing for eyewitnesses.
Assuring that no stone would be left unturned in the murder probe, Sarawak CID chief Dev Kumar urged the public not to speculate on the motives of the shooting.
However, since news of his death broke, messages expressing shock and condolences have began to pour in from politicians, activists and friends. And so have speculations.
Some are wondering if the death could be related to his activism in defence of native land rights.
One prophetic image of Kayong has appeared on Facebook.
In the photograph, the deceased is standing next to a banner, which reads: “If Dayak must die, Dayak die defending NCR land.”
The picture uploaded by PKR think-tank Political Studies for Change director Ooi Heng was taken on Oct 16, 2015.
Sarawak Dayak Association (Pedas) president Collin Imran Abdullah told Bernama that Kayong once informed him about a telephone call the latter received last year, asking him not to interfere in land matters.
“I don’t know if the call was a threat or otherwise because he (Kayong) never liked making a mountain out of a molehill,” he said.
Shocked by the murder, Collin said the deceased was friendly and never made enemies with anyone.
Kayong was secretary of Pedas, an organisation advocating Dayak rights.
Earlier, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian also sang praises of Kayong, heralding him as a fearless activist for the natives of Sarawak.
“He was a young man zealously pursuing justice for the people and was very outspoken against any kind of discrimination or unfairness in our society,” he said.
Kayong had contested the Bekenu constituency in the May 7 state election.
He lost to BN's Rosey Yunus in a four-cornered fight.
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