For the first time, SPRM apologises publicly to Teoh Beng Hock's family, offers contribution
 |
| Teoh Beng Hock, born in Melaka on 20 April 1979, died (mysterious death) at SPRM office, in Shah Alam, Selangor on 16 July 2009. |
On the 16th anniversary of Teoh Beng Hock's mysterious death, SPRM, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia, in English known as MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), today has issued its first public apology to the political aide's family for their pain and suffering.
In a statement, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki also announced the anti-graft agency's readiness to provide a "goodwill contribution" to Teoh's family, particularly to support his son's welfare and educational needs.
The death of Teoh Beng Hock
Teoh Beng Hock was born in 1979 in Melaka, Malaysia. After graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, he worked as a journalist at Sin Chew Daily.
After the historic general election in 2008, which witnessed 5 state governments fell on the hands of opposition parties, Beng Hock worked with the Selangor State Executive Council Member Ean Yong Hian Wah as his political aide.
Ean Yong was the Selangor state leader of the Democratic Action Party (DAP). After the election, DAP joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR, People’s Justice Party) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) to form Pakatan Rakyat (PR, People’s Pact) in the 5 states, Selangor, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah and Kelantan.
The 2008 general election was a humiliating defeat of the Barisan Nasional (BN, The National Front) led by United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Since the 1957 independence, BN had been dominating the federal government and most state governments through unfair electoral process and draconian laws that suppress fundamental liberties.
BN political elites had been using state apparatus such as the Election Commission, the Police, the Registrar of Societies, the state-own media, to maintain its power. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), a new institution was formed before the departure of the then UMNO Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office, is proved a powerful apparatus that to be used for political purpose.
Since the defeat in the 2008 general election, many UMNO politicians had vowed to take back the state governments before the next general election. In February, after MACC investigated two PKR state assemblymen from Perak state, the two state assemblymen (and another two state assemblymen) quitted the Pakatan Rakyat, caused the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat Perak state government.
In early July 2009, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched another big operation targeting 7 Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen in Selangor state. On 15 July 2009 at 6pm, Teoh Beng Hock was involuntarily brought to the Selangor head quarter of MACC in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, Selangor.
MACC claimed that Beng Hock was a witness in a MACC investigation against misappropriation of state fund by his employer Ean Yong Hian Wah. But MACC officers unscrupulously interrogate the witness until midnight, and denied Beng Hock’s right to lawyer. Beng Hock’s colleagues were not allowed to pass food and drinks to him at 12am.
At 1:30pm on 16 July 2009, Beng Hock was found dead at the fifth floor of the Plaza Masalam. The news of Beng Hock’s “fall to death” shocked the nation. Pakatan Rakyat leaders and civil society members gathered at Plaza Masalam to protest against the political-motivated death and demand justice for Beng Hock.
Malaysians for Beng Hock
As a response, memorial events were held in major towns across the country to mourn the death of Beng Hock. DAP and other PR leaders were instrumental in organizing the memorial events.
In July 2010, during the first anniversary memorial event on the passing of Beng Hock, Beng Hock’s younger sister, Lee Lan, urged society members to provide concrete support rather than sympathy to seek justice for Beng Hock.
Responding to the call, Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH), formed a “Malaysians for Beng Hock” (M4BH) movement together with KLSCAH Youth, LLG Cultural Development Centre, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Amnesty International Malaysia.
M4BH mobilised members of public to join the inquest hearing in support of the Teoh family, launched a nation-wide petition campaign that collected 100,000 signatures. The movement collaborated with NGOs and political parties at 13 states of Malaysia to organize public forums and exhibitions on the death of Beng Hock and the issue of custodial death.
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement
In 2014, the leadership of M4BH decided to transform the movement into a permanent secretariat, in order to ensure that the movement can be sustained in a long run. At the same time, the new organisation shall expand its concern and increase the advocacy on the issue of death in custody. Thus, Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy was born.
An educational arm, Democracy Academy of Malaysia, was formed earlier in October 2013. We are of the view that, democracy and human rights education will encourage citizens to take part in social movement to defend everyone’s human rights and to be a catalyst of democratization. A vibrant civil society and active citizenship will check the abuse of power, inhibit political persecution and death in custody.
We held a fund raising dinner in 2014 to fund the two main projects. A victim family of custodial death support fund was established to reduce the financial burden of the victim families. They can apply for the fund to cover the travel, accommodation and meal expenses.
The support fund has supported the family of Kamarulnizam Ismail from Pulau Pinang to cover some expenses while travelling from Pulau Pinang to Ipoh.
Since 2013, Democracy Academy of Malaysia organized numerous talks with the topics :
Introduction to human rights
Introduction to indigenous people’s rights
Introduction to labour rights
Introduction to social movement
Community organizing
Ethnic relationship in Malaysia
We have also organized two Kem Hak Asasi Manusia (Human Rights Camp) to educate young people on the theory and philosophy of human rights, rights-based approach, human rights and development. Participants were brought to meet the communities such as the victims of forced eviction and migrant workers.
In 2023, the organisation name has been changed to Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA) to better reflect it is an non-governmental organisation.
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA)'s Mission
To recognize and defend the democratic rights of individuals/groups as enshrined under the Federal Constitution without fear of political persecution, torture or death in custody;
To recognize, uphold and defend the human rights of individuals/groups in the custody of any and all State authorities as prescribed by international conventions.
Purposes
Educate the public about the tragic death of the late Mr Teoh Beng Hock in the context of political persecution, torture and deaths in custody;
Advocate for legal, policy and institutional reforms to eliminate political persecution, torture and deaths in custody;
Advocate full and frank disclosure of all facts and undertake fact-finding relating to incidents of political persecution, torture and deaths in custody;
Provide legal, social, counselling and other support, wherever possible, for the victims and the family of victims of political persecution, torture and deaths in custody;
Advocate for a truth and reconciliation process for all cases of political persecution, torture and deaths in custody;
Facilitate and assist the family of victims of political persecution, torture and deaths in custody in seeking redresses from the State;
Carry out any other activities in line with the missions and principles stated in Clause 2 and 3 herein.
Organisation Structure and Leadership
Current advisors : Abdul Samad Mohamed Said, Toh Kin Woon, Ng Geok Chee, Lim Lip Eng, Ahmad Farouk.
2023-2025 Committee
Ng Yap Hwa（President）, Kenneth Cheng（Deputy President), Wong Siew Yun（Secretary), Teoh Lee Lan (Vice Secretary) , Koong Hui Yein (Treasurer), Koo Kai Soon, (Member), Jacky Tan (Member), Phung Yie Wen (Member) and Elroi Yee (Member).
2020-2023 Committee
Ng Yap Hwa（President）, Teoh Lee Lan（Deputy President）, Lee Suk Pei（Secretary）, Wong Siew Yun (Vice Secretary) , Koo Kai Soon（Treasurer）, Liau Kok Fah（Member）, Ng Seow Chen（Member）.
2018-2020 Committee
Ng Geok Chee（President）, Toh Kin Woon（Deputy President）, Ngeow Chow Ying（Secretary）, Teoh Lee Lan (Vice Secretary), Koo Kai Soon（Treasurer）, Liau Kok Fah（Member）, Wong Siew Yun（Member）.
2016-2018 Committee
Abdul Samad Mohamed Said（President）, Ng Geok Chee（Deputy President）, Ngeow Chow Ying（Secretary）, Wong Siew Yun (Vice Secretary), Teoh Lee Lan（Treasurer）, A. Jayanath（Member）, Liau Kok Fah（Member）.
2014-2016 Committee
Abdul Samad Mohamed Said（President）, Ng Geok Chee（Deputy President）, Faisal Mustafa（Secretary）, Wong Siew Yun (Vice Secretary), Teoh Lee Lan（Treasurer）, A. Jayanath（Member）, Wong Chin Huat（Member
End©Permadu
Visit Permadu Malaysia blog at permadumalaysia.blogspot.com
| By Fauzi Kadir Chief Editor
|
Final editing and brought to you by |
1Visiting Permadu Malaysia is absolutely free and we operate with non-profit making objective. We hope you enjoy and feel happy visiting and reading every presentation from us.
If you have the generosity to support our operations and continuous activities of charity to those who are less fortunate, we would be grateful to accept sincere contributions from any individuals or organisations.
Contact us at permadu@gmail.com for further details and information. No obligation and no commitment.
Comments
Post a Comment