Soi Lek slammed for not apologizing to the Teohs, told to think with his brain

Soi Lek - accused of blindly lashing back

Malaysia Chronicle

MCA president Chua Soi Lek got a tongue-lashing from Pakatan Rakyat leaders, who reminded him that firstly, politics did not exceed humanitarian values and secondly, the MCA had also promised the family of Teoh Beng Hock to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe his death.

“Shame on Chua for being able to come up with such pitiful statements. His words exceed the limit and reflect the MCA’s inhuman attitude towards people, even the very community they claim to represent,” DAP MP for Taiping Nga Kor Ming toldMalaysia Chronicle.

“Not only has the MCA reneged on its promise to set up a Royal Commission for Beng Hock, it now even refuses to apologize over the violence committed by their own people. This shows that MCA is a complete failure and a running dog for Umno. They have let the people down and are beyond redemption.”

Added oil to the fire

Instead of a steadying hand, Soi Lek added oil to already-high flames when he tried to shift the blame away from his party. He was accused of giving desperate and superficial reasons for the behavior of MCA members caught on camera assaulting Beng Hock’s brother-in-law Soh Cher Hai outside a hall in Galas.

Soh had gone to the small Kelantan town with members of theMalaysians for Beng Hock movement. He had hoped to speak with MCA deputy minister Heng Seai Kie, to plead with her not to abandon the push for a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

But not only was Soh roughly shoved to the ground in full view of Heng, who did not lift a finger to help him, she later allegedly lied to the press that he did not really hit the road. She added further salt to the wound by ticking off his group and telling them not to bring the Beng Hock issue to Galas.

Whatever Soi Lek's reasons – personal or political – he chose to defend Heng and her cohorts despite the clear-cut, hard evidence. The MCA president spouted more or less the same words that she had earlier said, trying to turn the blame on the political opposition for causing the brouhaha.

“The whole issue of Teoh Beng Hock has now been politicised and used by certain political parties as an instrument or issue to attack the government when you know that the coroner’s inquest is on. We also notice every by-election Teoh Beng Hock will be used as an issue to distract the voters, and this is rather unfortunate,” Malaysian Insider reported Soi Lek as saying.

Refusing to apologize, Chua said he did not have a clear picture of the situation and would check with Heng and other MCA leaders first before making any decision.

“An apology is the minimum courtesy. We also dare him to answer, did MCA lodge the police report against Beng Hock’s sister Lee Lan that got them arrested and detained for 6 hours? How can he say he is not aware of what happened, but yet he can immediately accuse the opposition of involvement? Does he realize he is also insinuating the Teoh family is part of his so-called political ploy? But who are the ones who used physical force and who made matters worse by lying?” Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Chua should really think with his brain and not other parts of his body when he questions why each time there is election, Beng Hock issue comes out. Isn’t the reason obvious? Until there is justice, the people especially his family will clamor for fair play. It is just their bad luck they thought the MCA could help but it is now proven the MCA only cares about Umno and their own government positions.”

The 30-year old Beng Hock was a Selangor political aide when he died in suspicious circumstances after overnight interrogation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in July 2009. His death is all the more poignant because he was due to marry his fiancee on the day his body was found outside the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam.

The MACC had hauled up Beng Hock as a witness for a probe into a web of accusations believed to be sprung by Umno against the state Pakatan leaders. Selangor Umno, led by Prime Minister Najib Razak himself, had vowed to topple the state government using all ways and means.

Recently, the MCA also abandoned a probe into the RM12.5billion Port Klang Free Zone financial debacle and was accused of helping Umno to cover the BN's tracks in the project.