Statement by Ng Wei Aik in Komtar on Sunday, 11^th April 2010:

Official assurance of liberties and safety sought for Dr. Pornthip’s testimony

DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) feels extremely shock after learning that Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand, the renowned Thai pathologist will not be able to testify at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest when it resumes hearing on April 20 citing “political pressure” from the Malaysian government.

Thus, DAPSY seeks for government’s official assurance that Dr. Pornthip’s personal safety and her presence at the inquest as well as her work in the three troubled southern Thailand provinces where thousands have died in a Muslim separatist insurgency will not be jeopardized in order for us to get to the bottom of Teoh’s tragic demise.

According to Dr. Pornthip, the Thai Foreign Ministry had received “signals” from the Malaysian government through “informal channels” suggesting that her presence at the inquest later this month would not be welcomed.

She said that the Justice Ministry had received information from the Thai Foreign Ministry that she may face problems should she go, including the possibility of being stopped from entering the country.

This shows that there is an unseen “political black hand” tries its all out in interfering Teoh Beng Hock’s inquest as well as its final judgement. Why should the Malaysian government extremely afraid of Dr. Pornthip’s testimony if MACC alluded that Teoh might have committed suicide?

Following the latest revelation of Dr. Pornthip, we are now in dire need of Prime Minister’s fullest commitment to its open assurance when meeting Teoh’s family on 28th of July, 2009 that every effort would be made to find out the cause of the political aide’s death.

Najib was also reported as saying, “No stone will be left unturned in finding out the real cause of death. And, if there is any foul play, action will definitely be taken.”

We also need Najib to give his immediate instruction for the police and the Immigration Department to give their fullest co-operation in making sure that Dr. Pornthip could arrive in Malaysia without any unwarranted interruption for her extremely important testimony at the controversial inquest and her presence will not impinge on her work in southern Thailand.

* Ng Wei Aik, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) National Publicity Secretary & ADUN for Komtar