Gunshots fired at Sarawak minister's house

Shots were fired at the residence of state Local Government and Community Development Minister Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh which is situated on Ipoh Road here between 8.15pm and 8.30pm last night.

His wife Datin Sri Leong Poh Ling said the shot hit a window on the first floor of a bedroom facing the road.

Although all family members, except for Wong were at home, nobody was hurt.

Leong said the incident was only discovered this morning when her son saw pieces of broken window panes below the curtain on the floor.

Speaking to reporters here today, she heard a very loud explosive noise between 8.15pm and 8.30pm last night.

"I looked out the window but saw nothing. So I thought somebody's car tyre or laptop had exploded," said Leong, a retired school teacher in her 60s.

She said upon discovering broken window panes and a hole that had pierced through another window pane, the police were called in to check.

Wong's son, Datuk Andrew Wong Kee Yee said he was not sure who was the intended victim or the person who fired the shot.

Andrew Wong, the deputy chairman of the Sibu Municipal Council said he believed it was related to his work, which involves solving problems of hawkers in the town.

"But whatever it is, it is just not right. We will leave it to the police to investigate," he said adding that the timing was, however, very suspicious since his father would be launching the United People's Party (UPP), Sarawak's latest political party, in Kuching on Saturday.

The senior Wong is to lead the party after a bitter quarrel with leaders of his previous party, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP).

He quit SUPP in May this year and joined another new political party called Teras (Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak) but left it for UPP in July.

Meanwhile, Sibu deputy police chief Supt Martin Koo when met at the scene confirmed shots were fired at the house using a shotgun.

"We found a spent slug and nine pellets in various places of the house compound, just below the bedroom. We are still investigating." he added.