SARAWAK Commissioner of Police Amer Awal said a police task force was formed to investigate the fatal shooting of two men, one of whom had survived two previous attempts on his life, in the central town of Sibu today.

Amer, in a statement today, did not offer new information on the case, saying it was too early for him to divulge what police had found in their investigation into the 12.15pm shooting.

In the incident, two men, identified on news portals as 47-year-old Lau Ngik Yin, of Jalan Tekam in Sibu, and 21 year-old Loh Lik Siong, of Song town upriver of Sibu, were gunned down as they were having a drink on the sidewalk of the One O One Cafe in Pahlawan.

Lau’s female companion, a Chinese national, escaped unhurt.

Amer confirmed an eyewitness’ account that a lone gunman, wearing a helmet, fired several shots at the two men.

Amer did not say how many shots were fired but an eye witness claimed four shot were fired from a “pistol” and the two men took two hits each.

The Sarawak police chief said both died instantly.

“According to witnesses, the suspect (gunman) escaped on a motorcycle,” he said.

Murder shootings are rare in the state, said Amer, who urged the Sibu people to remain calm and not to jump to conclusions.

“Give police the time and space to conduct the investigation thoroughly.”

State CID chief SAC Dev Kumar also refused to answer questions on the shooting, including whether the hit was gang-related.

“I will not be revealing details of the investigation at this early juncture. We cannot speculate,” he said.

Lau is a well known “businessman” in Sibu and is better known by the nickname “Ah Kang”.

An attempt was made to kill him on November 2012, also in  Pahlawan. Lau survived the shotgun attack, but his wife did not.

They were having lunch at a coffeeshop when a gunman fired into the shop.

Lau’s wife was the older sister of another Sibu “businessman” who was also gunned down on January 11, 2012.

Another attempt was made on Lau’s life in September 2014, again while he was having lunch in a coffeeshop, this time with a friend, in the same area.

A shotgun was also used in the attempt but Lau and his friend were only slightly injured.

A single shot was reported to be have fired into the shop by one of three men in a passing car.

One of his three bodyguards fired back at the car. No action was taken against the bodyguard as police said he was licensed to carry firearms and his handgun was licensed. – October 5, 2017.