Beng Hock's sister heads to UN, Anwar told writing on justice isn't enough

Former DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock’s sister, Lee Lan, will travel to Geneva next March to present her late brother’s case to the UN Human Rights Council.

In a statement, the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement said Lee Lan will also “condemn the Madani government for dereliction of duty in the case and for its failure to effectively safeguard his fundamental human rights”.

The association noted that despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publishing a book themed around “justice and reform”, his administration has clearly strayed from both principles in handling Beng Hock’s case.

“In this International Human Rights month, the association reminds the Anwar administration once again that safeguarding basic human rights is not a slogan, but the most fundamental responsibility of any government.

“The hasty closure of the case has severely eroded public confidence in the justice system and caused the government’s credibility on human rights issues to collapse. The association stresses that continued evasion of the truth will only deepen public dissatisfaction,” it added.

To prevent another tragedy like Beng Hock’s death in MACC custody, the association urged the Anwar administration to act decisively to bring those responsible to justice and undertake comprehensive reforms of the MACC so that the national principle of “upholding the rule of law will no longer be an empty slogan.”

Stepping up outreach

Since filing a formal complaint on Beng Hock’s death with the United Nations in July, the association has stepped up engagement with international human rights bodies.

Its outreach includes discussions with staff from the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, officers from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Southeast Asia office, regional human rights leaders across Asia, and Malaysian rights organisations.

The association has also raised RM122,377 through nationwide roadshows and online crowdfunding.

“These funds will be used to support human rights advocacy at the UN and related initiatives. At the same time, the association will continue pushing for institutional reforms within Malaysia and will organise various programmes to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, ensuring that the movement for truth and justice remains deeply rooted among the people,” it added.

Found dead

In 2009, Beng Hock, who was then Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah’s aide, was found dead after overnight questioning at Selangor MACC, then headquartered at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

A 2011 royal commission of inquiry (RCI) ruled that he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation. However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts, including those of MACC officers.

On Nov 21 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the police to complete the investigation into Beng Hock’s death within six months.

In May, the Attorney-General’s Chambers ultimately classified the case as no further action.

The following month, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, joined by several party leaders, bowed in “solemn respect and sorrow” to the Teoh family.

Loke also appealed to the grieving family to consider accepting the government’s “goodwill contribution” over the former political aide’s tragic death.

DAP and Pakatan Harapan had previously used Beng Hock’s death as political fodder, promising to deliver justice if they formed the government. - Mkini