KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Bersih 2.0 raised questions today over the possibility that the fatal shooting of PKR’s Bill Kayong in Miri this morning was related to politics.
If true, the polls watchdog said Kayong would be the first candidate or ex-candidate to be killed since the 1982 case of Negri Sembilan Speaker Mohd Taha Talib, who was shot dead by then culture, youth and sports minister Datuk Mokhtar Hashim eight days before the elections that year.
“If election-related murders — common in countries like India and the Philippines — is becoming part of our political culture, a long shadow is cast on our electoral process,” Bersih 2.0 said in a statement.
It also reminded the police of the unsolved murder of K. Murugan, political aide to Vasantha Kumar, the PKR parliamentary candidate for Tapah in 2013.
Murugan had gone missing on May 1 and his body was found tied with wires in a pond in Batu Gajah, Perak, on polling day May 5.
“The police must ensure that no person risks life or bodily injury for participation in the political process,” Bersih 2.0 said.
The group said Kayong, a known Dayak rights activist, had been a strong supporter of the fight for free and fair elections.
It recalled crossing paths with Kayong numerous times in the past and said he had also played a pivotal role in the Sarawak edition of the Bersih 4 rally last year.
“He gave his utmost assistance in selling the Bersih T-shirts to raise funds to transport participants from Miri to attend the rally in Kuching,” Bersih 2.0 said.
The watchdog said the politician will be sorely missed and remembered well by the communities he served, especially the indigenous tribes of Sarawak.
“Bersih 2.0 will work out best to realise Kayong’s wish for free and fair elections in Malaysia in his remembrance. We will keep our watch to see justice done for Kayong,” the group vowed.
Kayong, 43, was killed by an unknown person using a shotgun in a Toyota Hilux while at an intersection in Lutong, Miri, about 8.30am today.
The Miri PKR secretary’s death has since sparked condemnation and unease statewide, especially within the Dayak community.
Earlier Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) president Sidi Munan urged all Dayak NGOs to help the police by giving any information they have.
He said Kayong was a very vocal Dayak rights activist, helping the Dayak native land owners to fight against oil palm companies.
Police are currently investigating the killing under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Kayong was in the limelight recently through the May 7 Sarawak election when he took on and lost to Barisan Nasional’s direct candidate Rosey Yunus in the Bekenu state constituency. Kayong polled 1,200 votes against Rosey’s 6009 votes.
Two other candidates, independents Peter Jelin (565 votes) and Austin Sigi Melu (589 votes) lost their election deposits.
