Mark Sarawak Day With a Quest For Justice

Press Statement by Nurul Izzah Anwar dated 22 July 2016

1. In the spirit of the inaugural Sarawak Day, we demand that those responsible for the murder of Bill  Kayong, a fearless advocate of land rights in Sarawak be brought to justice.

2. On 21 June 2016, the life of Bill Anak Kayong – Miri PKR Branch Secretary and native customary rights (NCR) land activist – was unjustly taken when he was killed with a shotgun at Miri, Sarawak. Recent developments have seen Mohamad Fitri Pauzi, 29, charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with the murder of Kayong. Lie Chang Loon, 37, was charged with abetting Mohamad in the murder, under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 302. Lie was not alone in the abetment, the charge sheet implicates two other suspects and Dato’ Lee Chee Kiang, 45 who are still at large.[1][2]

3. Lee has been found to enjoy strangely intimate ties with the political establishment, but for the sake of justice for Bill Kayong and his loved ones, the judicial process must not be compromised.

4. It is thus imperative for the Malaysian authorities, with the collaboration of the Australian government to drastically escalate efforts to bring Lee to justice.

5. Lee has close ties with our nation’s political elites. For starters, his father, Dato’ Sri Lee Sie Tong has been serving as the Temenggong of Miri since 2013. Just last month, Lee Sie Tong’s appointment was extended by another two years. Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin expressed that the extended term granted to Lee Sie Tong is a nod to the latter’s indispensable role in amassing Chinese support for ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.[3] Secondly, alleged abettor Lee Chee Kiang has unusually connections with the police force as his company exploits the auxiliary police service – vehicles belonging to Lee’s company are not only clearly labelled “Polis Bantuan Tung Huat Plantation”, but also marked with the bold emblem of the Royal Malaysia Police.[4] There is a glaring conflict of interest, as the police, whose duty is to protect the rights of the people are showing solidarity for a private corporation with a track record of exploiting precisely those rights.

6. For at least 10 years, Lee Chee Kiang has acted as the director of palm oil company, Tung Huat Niah Plantations – a company perpetually entangled in NCR land disputes, along with the other constituents of Tung Huat Group of Companies. Together with his father Lee Sie Tong, the current Temenggong of Miri, both individuals have the majority ownership over Tung Huat Niah Plantations. In 2011, native residents of Sungai Bekelit and Sungai Bekelit Ulu longhouses lodged a report against Tung Huat Niah Plantations for attempting to deceive them into signing away their NCR land rights for merely RM250 per individual.[5] Just this year, Tung Huat representatives – accompanied shamelessly by immigration personnel and the police – used intimidation tactics to threaten the guileless natives of Bekilit.[6]

7. Having turned the backs of the authorities to his benefit, is Dato’ Lee Chee Kiang – the alleged mastermind in the murder of Bill Kayong – relishing in impunity for being wealthy and politically-connected to the establishment?

8. Sarawak’s Crime Investigation Department chief SAC Dev Kumar has confirmed that Lee departed local grounds as early as two days after the shooting incident, and is now allegedly in Australia.[7] Yet, despite Lee’s role as an abettor for a gruesome murder, the authorities have appeared to gain little headway on the extradition of Lee. As of today, Lee’s name bears zero presence on the wanted list of the Royal Malaysia Police,[8] nor has the Immigration Department of Malaysia placed any restrictions on Lee’s travel status.[9] Recently, Malaysia’s police authorities have requested assistance from Interpol Malaysia.[10] But, as of 22 July 2016, there is still no trace of Lee’s name on INTERPOL’s list of wanted persons.[11]

9. Lee possesses a gun license, renewable on 30 June every year. Given all evidence pointing to Lee’s probable involvement in a gun-related homicide, the police must revoke his gun license to mitigate the threat that he poses to the community.

10. For now, two men – Mohamad Fitri Pauzi and Lie Chang Loon have been charged at the Miri Magistrate Court, with the case mention fixed for August 30. The Malaysian authorities – the Royal Malaysia Police and the Immigration Department of Malaysia must before 30 August move towards extraditing Lee. With a sound motive and evidence surfacing, Dato’ Lee Chee Kiang must be brought back to confront the criminal justice system.[12]

11. Bill Anak Kayong was a customary land rights activist and secretary to the honourable Member of Parliament of Miri. He offered himself as a candidate for the Bekenu state constituency during the Sarawak state elections this year. That he was murdered in a firearm homicide, in broad daylight no less, is a despicable act that must be condemned. We demand that the authorities in Malaysia immediately put forth an extradition request for Lee Chee Kiang.

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, LEMBAH PANTAI
VICE PRESIDENT AND ELECTION DIRECTOR, PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT