Police asking protesters to leave the premises at the MACC building in Shah Alam today.
By Ralvin Manikam
The reluctance of Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) officials to meet Teoh Beng Hock’s family does seem to be an admission of guilt, according opposition leaders and protestors at the MACC building in Shah Alam today.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said this when met at the “Justice is Dead” protest to demand answers behind the promotion of one of the suspects in Teoh’s death.
Despite the crowd (led by Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan) asking to meet the director of the MACC, no officials showed up.
“What are they afraid of?” asks Teo Nie Ching, Kulai MP
According to the police, the MACC director was “on-leave” . Teo said other officials, such as the Deputy Director, should have had the courage and responsibility to meet the family.
“What are they afraid of? If they are not guilty, then why should they be afraid?
“It only shows that you are you too arrogant to meet us,” Teo told The Rocket.
Hishamuddin Hashim, one of the officers who had interrogated Teoh before his death, is now promoted as the Director of MACC Sabah.
Hishamuddin and two other officers, Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus and Arman Alies, were named by a 2011 Royal Commission of Inquiry as being responsible for mentally torturing Teoh, which ultimately led to the former political aide’s suicide.
Teoh, who was then-aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009, at the 5th floor corridor of the Selangor MACC headquarters in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam. He had been brought in to assist with investigations of alleged state fund abuse by Ean Yong the night before.
“Why was Hishammudin promoted ? Why weren’t they relieved of their duties instead?” said a teary-eyed Lee Lan.
“My parents and family came all the way from Melaka to meet the MACC director to answer, but you (the director) are not brave enough to meet us.”
“Because you refuse to meet us, it must mean you know who the murderer is,” she said.
She also lambasted MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, whom she said had refused to meet the family to explain the situation to the family, including Hishamuddin Hashim’s promotion in the MACC.
She said that if they failed to meet them, her family will go to Sabah, where Hishamuddin is posted, and protest there.
During the protest, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and ex-DAP Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu were allowed to enter the MACC office, but had failed to meet authorities from MACC.
Other opposition leaders who showed their support included Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua as well as assemblypersons Ng Sze Han (Kinrara),Eddie Ng Tien Chee (Balakong), V. Ganabatirau (Selangor state exco), Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang), Lee Kee Hiong (Kuala Kubu Baru), Loh Chee Heng (Teluk Datuk), Leong Yu Man (Triang), Chow Yu Hui (Bilut), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) and Chandra Mohan (Selangor senator).
-The Rocket
