WHY is there a delay in prosecuting Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) officials who were involved in the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock 15 years ago, asked a local university student group.

The University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) said Teoh has yet to receive justice, and the government has failed to address the reform agenda for law enforcement agencies.

“Why doesn’t the government have the political courage to bring justice for Teoh Beng Hock and reform law enforcement agencies? 

“The people’s demands are simple, yet the government consistently lacks the political will to provide justice for the Teoh family. 

“Ironically, the government prevents the people from peacefully expressing their demands at Parliament, as the Dewan Rakyat belongs to the people”, said Umany president Lim Jing Jet in a statement.

He was referring to the police action on Monday in stopping members and supporters of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement from entering Parliament’s gates to submit a memorandum to the government.

In the ensuing stand-off, several participants were manhandled and pushed by the police, including Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan.

Lim said the government’s attitude over the years towards Teoh’s case had been indifferent.

In 2009, Teoh, who was then an aide to then-Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after he had arrived for questioning on the 14th floor of the Selangor MACC headquarters. 

A coroner’s inquest in 2011 delivered an open verdict.  

His family subsequently filed an appeal against the findings. Three years later, the Court of Appeal set aside the open verdict and ruled that Teoh’s death was caused by multiple injuries as a result of unlawful acts by unknown persons.

In June 2018, the cabinet granted approval for investigations into Teoh’s death to be reopened.  

However, four months later, the police said they had not received any instructions from the Attorney General’s Chambers to do so.

The police had then re-investigated the case under the minor charge of “wrongful confinement” under Section 342 of the Penal Code instead of homicide.

In August 2023, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the police had completed their investigation and submitted the report to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“Almost a year has passed without anyone being prosecuted for Teoh’s unlawful death. The police delay in the investigation is unacceptable,” said Lim.

Lim said the government must disclose the whole truth behind Teoh’s death and restart the investigation from the perspective of homicide.

“The government must prosecute all MACC officers or others involved in Teoh’s death under Section 302 (murder) or Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Penal Code,” he added.

He said it was disappointing that the Pakatan Harapan government has forgotten its promises to seek justice for Teoh.

The Teoh Beng Hock support group had undertaken a three-day walk from Shah Alam to Parliament from Friday in seeking justice for Teoh.

They had planned to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at parliament when they were stopped at the main gate from entering on Monday.

Anwar had reacted to the incident by saying on social media that he would meet Teoh’s family and review their memorandum.  – July 16, 2024.