Beng Hock's family says 'no' to Abu Kassim's return as MACC chief

The family of late Teoh Beng Hock opposes any move for Abu Kassim Mohamed to be reappointed as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Beng Hock's sister Teoh Lee Lan took to social media to voice her family's disagreement on a report in the New Straits Times (NST) that speculates the return of Abu Kassim to the post.

"During the trial of Beng Hock's case, we found that many of the officers were not highly educated, some only with a PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) level," she said in a Facebook posting today.

"The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Beng Hock's case said only two officers out of 33 were honest, while others were lying and covered-up for each other," Lee Lan said.

"Abu Kassim (photo below) merely said he regretted and understood how the family felt. He did not instruct the probe against the relevant officers and have them suspended. He was in the dark in Beng Hock's case.

"With him again steering MACC, how can we talk about transformation and how are we going to proceed with the trial fairly and justly?" she asked.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad vowed to change some of the government agency heads.

Earlier today, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad, who replaced Abu Kassim in June 2016, was reported to have tendered his resignation.

Former MACC deputy chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull was seen at the Perdana Leadership Foundation. It is believed he had met with Mahathir on matters related to MACC.

Beng Hock was the political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.

He was found dead after falling nine floors from MACC's previous Selangor headquarters on July 16, 2009, where he had been held overnight for interrogation.

The Court of Appeal had ruled in 2014 that Beng Hock died from a fall that could have been accelerated by unlawful actions of persons unknown, including by MACC officers, and ordered the police to investigate.

Following the verdict, MACC agreed to pay RM600,000 to Teoh's family to settle a negligence suit they brought against the organisation.

However, the Attorney-General's Chambers said that it found no criminal elements in his death.

Pakatan Harapan had pledged to investigate Beng Hock's case by setting up another RCI in the first 100 days of the coalition taking over the government. - Mkini