Sibu: Thieves ransacked the first floor office of SUPP Sibu Branch at Kampung Dato Road here yesterday.

Documents were found scattered but no valuables were stolen which prompted branch party members to ask the motive for the break-in.

Head of the branch's Bumiputra Unit Andrew Shilling, who lodged the police report, said the break-in was discovered at 6.45am by two office workers.

"We are puzzled. The computers in the office were left untouched. We found no valuables stolen. This prompts us to ask - is the break-in politically motivated?"

Andrew said they would leave this to the police who started investigating yesterday morning, beginning with brushing for fingerprints and others.

The political secretary to the chief minister said on discovering the theft, he called police chief ACP Shafie Ismail for help.

Shafie said he sent over a forensic team and their CID men.

"We are determining whether the crime is linked to politics, but we have to begin studying the case from all angles to see if there are other motives. We shall also see if there are documents missing."

Andrew said thieves could have intruded after tampering with the back iron door on the ground floor.

He said they also found two doors forced open - a back wooden door on the first floor and an iron door.

After entering, the intruders ransacked the first floor premises that housed six offices: the general office and two accountant rooms, his office and that of Women and Youth Sections, and an office at the back.

He said the doors of five offices had been pried open except for the office of Youth and Women's, which the intruders failed to open, so climbed through the ceiling into it from his office next door.

Andrew said the intruders pried open a small safe but found no cash inside. A bigger safe was left untouched.

He said the party's branch moved into the premises in 1989, and yesterday's break-in was its first.

Police seized two hammers at the scene. No closed-circuit TV (CCTV) set was installed.

There are eight staff working in the block with office hours from 8am to 5pm.

SUPP Sibu branch chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh condemned the break-in.

He said in a press statement yesterday that he was angry about the crime.

"I was informed of the incident in the morning. We believe the break-in could have been committed before daybreak."

Wong, who is in Kuching, said he would leave the probe to the police.

He said he was puzzled that the computers were not taken; only documents kept in drawers and cabinets were ransacked.

"The break-in occurred as our branch is gearing up for the election. It has also come in the wake of the party's internal struggle. I hope the crime will not affect us. Let the police confirm the motive."