Why probe Teoh Beng Hock group chief over ‘missing PM’ campaign, asks Zaid

Members of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement carrying out a protest about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Kubu Baharu yesterday. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today asked whether Malaysians are still allowed to hold protests in light of a probe opened against the chairman of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement.

Ng Yap Hwa is being investigated for intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace following a campaign launched by the association called “Search for Missing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim” in Kuala Kubu Baharu yesterday.

Association member Wong Yan Ke said police considered the campaign illegal and had demanded the removal of the group’s posters, with Ng expected to present himself at the Hulu Selangor police station to have his statement recorded later today.

“Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death was never resolved. Despite so many investigations and inquests, there were no clear answers. Naturally, the family and friends of Teoh Beng Hock are not happy. And the public, too,” Zaid said in a post on X.

“Those in Kuala Kubu who faithfully voted for a democratic government hoped it would side with the truth and hate cover-ups. They were hoping government cover-ups would be a thing of the past. They must be cursing themselves.

“I am sorry for the protester. The police are investigating him for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Why is our government so fierce? Can citizens no longer protest?”

Ng, along with Teoh Lee Lan, the younger sister of the late Beng Hock, was reportedly using the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign period as an opportunity to lobby for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss Teoh’s death in July 2009.

The association submitted a protest letter to the Prime Minister’s Office in December, stating its dissatisfaction with the fact that no one had been held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

Beng Hock was the political aide to then Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. He was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after presenting himself for questioning at the 14th floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s Selangor headquarters.

A coroner’s inquest in 2011 delivered an open verdict. His family filed an appeal against the findings and, three years later, the Court of Appeal set aside the open verdict, ruling that Beng Hock’s death was caused by multiple injuries as a result of unlawful acts by unknown persons.