Media Statement by Liew Chin Tong in George Town on Wednesday, 23^rd December 2009:

Is police action beyond scrutiny and criticism?

Police investigations of Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng over his statement on the death of Teoh Beng Hock and the subsequent police action to interrogate DAP Selangor Chairman and Selangor Government Exco YB Ean Yong Hian Wah over his statement on the probe on Guan Eng, is most deplorable.

The police invoked the controversial Sedition Act to launch an investigation on Lim Guan Eng who is also DAP Secretary-General for claiming, at the Pakatan Rakyat’s inaugural convention on 19^th December 2009 in Shah Alam, that Teoh Beng Hock was killed.

According to press reports, Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan, after studying the autopsy report, photographs and x-rays made available to her by the Malaysian authorities, testified at the Shah Alam coroner’s court last October that Teoh's death could be “80 per cent homicide”.

According to the police, Teoh’s case is the subject of an on-going inquest.

On the other hand, Ean Yong is said to have “intimidated” the police by calling the police to cease the probe on Guan Eng. Ean Yong is to be investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Since when have the police gained such clout that its actions are beyond public scrutiny and criticism? By investigating Ean Yong for his criticism on police action erstwhile, the police is clearly “intimidating” its critics.

It is the most regrettable that the police has decided on such a harsh and draconian course to quell views expressed in public sphere. It is a sad end to a sad year for human rights and democracy in Malaysia, as well as a distressing closing of a decade full of instances of abuses of power by the police.

Malaysians deserve to know whether this police action is part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s National Key Result Areas (NKRA) approach, among other things, to reduce the crime rate.

* Liew Chin Tong, DAP International Secretary & MP for Bukit Bendera