Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death in 2009, following interrogation by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC) in the grounds of its Selangor headquarters, is a matter of definite public importance. DAP stands in sympathy support and solidarity with the family of Teoh Beng Hock.
The Minister of Home Affairs recently said that the matter is with the Attorney-General. The police also said that they are merely heeding the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ order to investigate Teoh Beng Hock’s death for wrongful confinement, despite there being elements of homicide and foul play in the 2009 case.
Cabinet had decided on 20 June 2018 to reopen investigations into the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock. I had written a letter to Attorney-General Tommy Thomas on 23 November 2018 requesting that this be done. The Attorney-General had replied in a letter on 4 December 2018, that he had written to the Inspector-General of Police on 17 July 2018 to do so accordingly. In his reply, the Attorney-General regretted that there were no progress and that he will press the police to continue with the investigations.
Despite the matter being brought up in Cabinet several times, the last occasion on 15th May 2019, there were still no new developments. I am surprised that instead of reopening investigations, the police is investigating instead under Section 342 of the Penal Code, which deals with wrongful confinement, as instructed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Following this development, I had written another letter to Tommy Thomas on 25 June 2019 and we are awaiting his reply.