Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the motive of PKR leader Bill Kayong’s murder would not be made public until the trial of the accused.

"It is not police's job to tell the motive. Let us be in court and announce it (the motive) at the trial.

"Yes, we already know (the motive). This is because we are the ones who conduct investigation. We know. But I won't respond to this (the call to reveal the motive) until the trial in court," he told the press today at a Hari Raya event at Police Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar urged the police to ensure that the motive of the murder is unearthed, following the arrest of the alleged murderer.

“We … need to ascertain the motives behind the killing of Bill Kayong – who, along with (Miri MP Dr Michael Teo), were targets of ongoing death threats and intimidation.

“Was his murder linked to the plight of the native customary land (or) illegal logging activities?

“We must not allow the conviction of the murderer to silence the larger motivations of the said heinous act,” she said in a statement yesterday.

While lauding the police on solving the case, Nurul Izzah also urged for a thorough prosecution and for the perpetrator to be punished with the maximum sentence for “robbing Bill's family and the larger Keadilan family of their brother and comrade.”

The penalty for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code is a mandatory death penalty.

Probe still ongoing

Kayong was the PKR Bekenu candidate during the Sarawak state election in May, and also served as Teo’s political secretary.

He was best known for his work as an activist on native customary land rights (NCR).

Kayong was shot dead in his vehicle while waiting at a traffic light intersection on the morning of June 21. He was 43 years old and a father of two.

Following the incident, police arrested six suspects on June 31 and July 1.

Yesterday, according to the police, one of suspects led the police to a shotgun and ammunition hidden in his home, which is believed to be the murder weapon.

Following the discovery, the police declared that the case was solved.

However, the police are still on the hunt for several more suspects who are still at large.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Police Commissioner Mazlan Mansor said the investigation into the murder will not end with the arrest of the six suspects.

"Although we (police), especially the special force formed to handle the case, have managed to find the weapon used in the murder, the probe will proceed...," he was reported as saying by Bernama.

He said the police were investigation the case from all angles, including identifying the possibility the murder of the NCR activist was mastermined by certain individuals or parties.

"So far there have been some leads and investigations are also focused on aspects relating to NCR land, involvement of the victim with non-governmental organisations (NGO) as well as personal matters of the victim," he said.

He said all the six suspects were locals and were being remanded to assist in the investigation.