After a 'nightmarish' decade, Beng Hock's family soldiers on

Eleven years ago, Teoh Beng Hock presented himself at the Selangor MACC headquarters, on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, to assist investigations but was found dead the morning after under very suspicious circumstances.

An inquest led to an open verdict, while a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) ruled that Beng Hock committed suicide by jumping to his death, following aggressive questioning by three MACC officers.

Making matters worse for the family, the trio identified by the RCI ended up getting promoted.

During a memorial service for Beng Hock last night, held online via video conferencing for the first time ever, his younger sister Lee Lan (photo, above) described their family's quest for justice as a never-ending nightmare.

"These 11 years, (we've had the) BN, Pakatan Harapan, and Perikatan Nasional (PN) government. It feels like we're on a roller coaster.

"There's a disappointment, followed by hope, and then disappointment again," she told those present.

Her family initially had faith that the Harapan government would bring those responsible for her older brother's death to justice.

To their dismay, then attorney-general Tommy Thomas only recommended that the MACC officers be investigated for "wrongful confinement" and not culpable homicide.

The new PN government, said Lee Lan, was even worse for appointing Abdul Razak Musa as the new solicitor-general.

Abdul Razak (below) had made a spectacle of himself during the inquest on Beng Hock's death in 2010, by suggesting that the deceased "choked himself" with his hands.

During the inquest, Abdul Razak also made fun of Karpal Singh, a quadriplegic lawyer representing Beng Hock's family, over his disability. During the inquest, Abdul Razak was representing the government.

Lee Lan said the appointment was unacceptable for the family.

"A civil servant who believes a person can strangle himself and utter insults against a disabled person was appointed to the second-highest office in the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"How depraved can the government be?" asked Lee Lan.

The memorial, held every year, was organised by the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, which was set up to organise a campaign to seek justice.

This time around, the event was held online due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The trust also organised an online concert in Beng Hock's memory.

Lee Lan said although her family was no closer to seeking justice, their campaign will continue.

"If we give up now, those who can abuse their power will become more arrogant and harm others," she said.

Meanwhile, the trust's chairperson Ng Geok Chee said there was no point in Harapan attempting to regain Putrajaya if it does not have the political will to pursue a reform agenda.

Ng said Harapan, initially buoyed by reformists, eventually scuttled when it allowed conservative voices from within to flourish.

Among others, Ng said Harapan failed to abolish the Sedition Act 1948 and locate victims of enforced disappearance such as pastor Raymond Koh and several others.

"Oppressive policies were kept and the culture of impunity remained. The (Harapan) administration did not respect human rights and lacked accountability," Ng accused.

At the time, Harapan's home minister was Muhyiddin Yassin who is now the prime minister. Ng said Muhyiddin cannot shoulder all the blame, as the cabinet acted collectively and did not push for reforms. - Mkini