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Discontinue Beng Hock Inquest 555 Penang to Mark the Young Aide’S Sudden Death

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Discontinue Beng Hock Inquest 555 Penang to Mark the Young Aide’S Sudden Death For Justice, Freedom & Solidarity PP3739/12/2010(025927) ISSN 0127 - 5127 RM4.00 2010:Vol.30No.8 Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(8) Page 1 COVER STORY Remembering Beng Hock in Penang If the present government does not want to change the system, then the rakyat can change the Government in the next GE by S H Tan crowd of about 400 paign drove all the way up from Lee Lan said that Beng Hock was people packed the forum KL for this event. only a witness to an alleged cor- AAA hall in the Han Chiang ruption case involving slightly College in Lim Lean Emotional appeal over RM2,000 but he paid the price Teng Road, Penang on a lazy Sun- for it with his life. She lamented day afternoon. It was a very en- Lee Lan conveyed her apologies that support for Beng Hock and couraging support from for not being able to be present in his family is slowly waning and Penangites for the “Malaysians for person because of some urgent fewer and fewer people are at- Beng Hock” campaign. business at home. However a vid- tending the inquest. It is begin- eotaped recording of her speech ning to be a lonely fight for justice The panel for the afternoon com- in Mandarin was played. She for Teoh Beng Hock. The authori- prised Beng Hock’s sister Teoh made an emotional and passion- ties appear to be (deliberately?) Lee Lan, Aliran president P ate appeal for justice for her delaying and prolonging the case Ramakrishnan, Lim Lian Geok brother. She narrated the facts of - with the hope that the public will Cultural Development Centre the case and said her family had lose interest and forget about it? president Toh Kin Woon, Am- been facing all sorts of obstacles nesty International Malaysia ex- and setbacks all along the way: Lee Lan said that her family does ecutive director Nora Murat and for example, steps to prevent Dr not need public sympathy but the moderator Ng Eng Kiat of Pornthip from testifying, harass- needs our support. She said that Suaram. ment and humiliation of Beng the public can give their support Hock and his family, deliberate by: A group of five people from the delays to the hearing and with- “Malaysians for Beng Hock” cam- holding of evidence from the trial. • signing the on-line petition Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(8) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE Justice in Malaysia – or the lack of it – is our focus in this issue. CONTENTS Teoh Beng Hock – and others who have perished – are not forgotten. P Ramakrishnan calls for a royal COVER STORY commission of inquiry to replace the discredited ••• Remembering Beng Hock In Penang 222 inquest. He was speaking at a civil society forum in ••• Discontinue Beng Hock Inquest 555 Penang to mark the young aide’s sudden death. S H Tan reports on the forum. Charles Hector looks at the big picture of custodial deaths and calls on the government to end this plague. FEATURES ••• Labour Law Amendments 888 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been intro- ••• When KPIs Enter The Courts 121212 duced in court to improve efficiency. But the preoc- ••• The Cost Of Cheap Shopping 161616 cupation with the speedy disposal of cases may come ••• How Selangor Won Over at the expense of justice, warns the Penang Bar Com- The Orang Asli 212121 mittee. ••• Stop The Cover Up : Disease On a different note, many of us shop in hypermarkets Does Not Discriminate 262626 for the best bargains but Max F tells us that cheap ••• The Quest For Justice Continues 343434 shopping comes at a price: the more consolidated ••• Deaths In Custody 404040 the retail market becomes, the easier it will be for large corporations to exploit farmers and other small suppliers. REGULARS Workers too are being squeezed. Proposed labour ••• LettersLettersLetters 363636 law amendments do little to remedy long-standing ••• Current Concerns 393939 injustices for employees, points out Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud. OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS Finally, Angeline Loh urges the authorities to be more transparent about outbreaks of diseases: ef- ••• Subscription Form 383838 forts to raise public awareness of leptospirosis pre- vention measures appear to be more low key in con- trast to past and ongoing health campaigns for den- gue, SARS and AH1N1. Published by Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)(ALIRAN)(ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Aliran is an organisation for ‘social democratic reform’. We advocate freedom, justice and Penang, Malaysia. solidarity; comment critically on social issues, offer Tel: (04) 658 5251 Fax: (04) 658 5197 analysis and alternative ideas keeping in mind Email (Letters to Editor): the national and global picture based on universal [email protected] human rights and spiritual values. We are listed on the on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of Email (General): [email protected] the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran Homepage : http://www.aliran.com welcomes all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Konway Industries Sdn. Bhd. Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kampung Jawa, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(8) Page 3 http://www.petition online.com/j4bhmacc/ petition.html Beng Hock was only a witness but • attending public forums and he paid the price for it with his life. helping to spread awareness • showing support by wearing the “Malaysians for Beng Hock” campaign T-shirt on Saturdays and Sundays to re- mind people and to keep the campaign alive. • donating or volunteering for the “Malaysians for Beng Hock” campaign. The cam- paign website is here http:// malaysiansforbenghock.word press.com/about/ • attending at least one of the hearings in KL to give the fam- ily support with our presence. ‘Change the urgent need to transform the po- sion. He reminded the panel that government!’ lice and enforcement units and the commission recommenda- their procedures. She questioned tions in the past have remained Ramakrishnan raised several the transparency of the police as recommendations up till today questions in his speech. He asked when there are so many deaths in and the federal government does why Beng Hock was grilled non- police custody. She called for an not seem to have the political will stop for nearly 11 hours till about immediate Royal Commission to to do anything. One of the panel 3.45am in the morning when he investigate the cause of Beng members replied that if the was only a witness to an alleged Hock’s death. The Commission present government does not corruption case involving slightly must have a transparent commit- want to change the system, then over RM2,000? Is it believable that tee comprising members with un- the rakyat can change the Govern- Beng Hock died without the yielding integrity. We cannot al- ment in the next General Election. knowledge of any MACC offic- low another Beng Hock case to ers? There are far too many why, happen ever again. Nora called on After the forum at the Han Chiang what, how and when in this case. civil society and the public to College ended, a group of ‘Malay- Rama said that important evi- speak out and raise awareness. sians for Beng Hock’ brought the dence has been clearly sup- campaign to the Speakers’ Square. pressed and the AG’s chambers Kin Woon stressed the need for They spoke to a crowd of about a has not acted in a transparent justice for Beng Hock and for all hundred gathered there. This was manner. The investigating officer those who have died in police followed by a declaration of ‘Say had also given contradictory custody. He was concerned that Sorry Day’ in support of the “Save statements on the purported sui- the truth has not been told in the Vui Kong” campaign. q cide note. The whole inquest is a case. He urged everyone to fight sham and Aliran calls for the in- for a torture-free society. We need quest to be disbanded and discon- to find the truth of how Beng Hock This is an edited version of tinued. A Royal Commission died and why. a report on the forum which should be setup immediately to first appeared on the take over the case. During the Q&A session, a mem- sembangsembangforum. ber of the audience questioned the blogspot.com site. Nora Murat said that there is an effectiveness of a Royal Commis- Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(8) Page 4 COVER STORY Discontinue Beng Hock inquest P Ramakrishnan calls for a royal commission of inquiry to replace the discredited inquest e are gathered here today WWW to express our solidarity WW with the Teoh family. We are here to express our sorrow over the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock. We are here to share the pain and anguish that his family is suffering on a daily basis. Teoh Beng Hock’s death has out- raged the conscience of this na- tion. It is difficult to understand how his death could have taken place in a security area without the knowledge of MACC officials Now after more than one year, we are who had complete control over the premises. nowhere nearer the truth; no one is any wiser when the findings would Unanswered questions be concluded. His death has distressed us and has raised many questions of pro- priety in the manner he was treated by the investigating per- sonnel. He was on his feet working the whole of Wednesday, 15 July 2009, when he was taken in at 5.00pm for questioning. His cruel grilling continued into the wee hours of the next morning until 3.45am the next day – nearly 11 hours after he had gone into the MACC building.
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