ROPE in the Malaysian Bar and Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in Teoh Beng Hock’s new probe team, his family urged today.

This call was made by Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan, who also thanked the government for reopening investigations into her brother’s mysterious death while he was in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) custody in 2009.

“However, we are worried that enforcement officers from the previous government will thwart the investigation.

“We hope this third investigation under the new government will be led by independent enforcement members. The special task force should include members of the Malaysian Bar and Suhakam,” Lee Lan said at Teoh’s remembrance ceremony at Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih this morning.

Teoh’s family had been dissatisfied with the outcome of Teoh’s inquest that ended in an open verdict, as well as the 2011 Royal Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that Teoh committed suicide under intensive interrogation.

As such, Lee Lan said her family had lost faith in public institutions like the MACC, police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“Our family was fighting against large government institutions. It was impossible to believe former prime minister Najib (Razak) would fulfil his promise of punishing the culprits.

“I hope the new government and Beng Hock’s ex-colleagues will fulfil their promise and revamp these institutions so that Beng Hock’s death would not have been in vain,” said Lee Lan.

She said new Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had also agreed to meet her family.

“Our lawyer (Ramkarpal Singh), will write to him tomorrow.” 

About 100 people attended the memorial service today, including several DAP federal and state lawmakers.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said they would ensure the new government gets to the bottom of Teoh’s death and hold accountable those responsible. – July 8, 2018.