By DayakDaily Team
BINTULU, Sept 24: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has called for a thorough probe into a series of attacks on 24-hour convenience stores in Sarawak, saying the investigation must go beyond those who carried them out to uncover the “real masterminds”.
Tiong said it was especially alarming that some of the incidents reported in Kuching, Sri Aman and Bintulu within 24 hours occurred while people were still inside the targeted premises.
“Knowing that there were people inside and still throwing dangerous objects into the shop is a blatant disregard for the law and for human lives.
“This kind of gangster-style behaviour, using intimidation, arson, violence and acts that endanger lives to achieve an aim, must not be allowed to grow in Sarawak. No one should think violence is a way to solve problems,” he said in a statement shared on his social media today.
He said the cases should not be treated separately if the same brand was repeatedly targeted.
“Once the person who carried out the arson is caught, the investigation must go further up the chain. If others planned or ordered it, the real masterminds must not be allowed to escape responsibility,” he said.
Tiong urged police to continue tracking down all those involved and establish whether the cases were linked, including whether there was planning, instruction or an organised group behind the attacks.
He said the public should not be “fobbed off” with excuses such as insufficient evidence or an inability to trace those involved, as any dispute or allegation must be dealt with through legal channels.
Tiong stressed that violence and intimidation could not become a way to settle problems.
“We must put a stop to gangster-style violence. Violence and intimidation cannot become a way to settle problems. We cannot wait until someone loses their life before taking action,” he said. — DayakDaily
