MP raps Muhyiddin for remark on Teoh Beng Hock’s family

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.

GEORGE TOWN: A DAP MP today criticised Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s remark that the family of Teoh Beng Hock “wanted more” despite being compensated in a civil suit, saying it gives the wrong impression that the family is demanding what it does not deserve.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said the civil and criminal cases on the matter are separate issues, and that the civil suit had been settled without prejudice meaning that it has no bearing on the criminal case.

“A three-member Court of Appeal bench has clearly stated in its judgment that there are elements of homicide. This means murder, manslaughter, death by negligence and so on.

“For Muhyiddin to say that all avenues were exhausted in relation to the investigation is an insult to the findings of the three eminent judges of the appellate court,” he said.

“To add salt to the wound, the classification of Teoh’s death under Section 342 of the Penal Code for wrongful confinement is a far cry from the findings of the court that there were elements of homicide.”

Muhyiddin said yesterday that the government had gone through almost all legal processes in relation to the case, including setting up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) and paying the family compensation.

“The family is not satisfied even though they have accepted the compensation. They are still urging for more action.

“So I would pass this matter to the attorney-general to make the appropriate decision,” he said.

However, Ramkarpal said investigations into Teoh’s death were far from over.

He said questions still remain as to whether there are parties who are criminally responsible for his death.

He also urged the home minister from making remarks that give the wrong impression about Teoh’s family.

“It must be made very clear that the family of Teoh is not asking for any favours, neither are they asking for something they do not deserve.

“All they are asking for is justice and it is for the state to provide them with that,” he said on sidelines of a press conference with Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo in Gelugor here today.

He also dismissed the likelihood of Teoh taking his own life, noting that he was supposed to be married soon and was expecting his first child.

“There was simply no reason for him to have done so. It is hoped that the criminal investigations are satisfactorily concluded as soon as possible in order to bring closure to this unfortunate saga.”

In 2009, Teoh, who was the political aide to then-Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after he was interrogated by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its office on the 14th floor of the same building.

An RCI concluded that Teoh was driven to suicide by the aggressive interrogation methods used by MACC officers. It also blamed three officers for their aggressive methods which it said had violated procedures.

Last July, it was reported that the police would comply with instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chamber to conduct further investigations into Teoh’s death. -FMT