Nga asks Saifuddin to halt probe on Teoh Beng Hock’s family

The DAP vice-chairman says he disagrees with the police investigating peaceful protests, including the ‘Search for Missing Prime Minister’ campaign.

(FMT) – DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming says he has asked home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to intervene in the police investigation into a protest held by the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement.

Nga, the housing and local government minister, said he had asked his Cabinet colleague to get the police to halt the investigation, particularly into Beng Hock’s sister, Lee Lan.

“I believe the police have received the instruction to do so (drop the investigation). It does not need to become an issue,” Nga was quoted by Oriental Daily as saying after a Pakatan Harapan ceramah last night.

He said he disagreed with the police investigating peaceful protests, including the one held by the association in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

On May 5, the group launched a campaign called “Search for Missing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim” in Kuala Kubu Baharu following multiple failed attempts by Beng Hock’s family to meet Anwar over the past 17 months.

Its chairman, Ng Yap Hwa, and Lee Lan were later summoned to the Hulu Selangor police station to have their statements taken. They are being investigated for intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace.

The group said it decided to hold the protest in Kuala Kubu Baharu amid the campaign for the by-election as it would give them the best chance to meet politicians on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, Nga offered his assistance to arrange a meeting between Anwar and the group to discuss Beng Hock’s death in July 2009 and their demands.

“I will try my best to arrange a meeting between Anwar and the association,” he said.

Last December, the group submitted a protest letter to the Prime Minister’s Office expressing dissatisfaction that no one has been held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

In 2009, the former 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 had gone 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 subsequently filed an appeal against the findings, and three years later, the Court of Appeal set aside the open verdict and ruled that Beng Hock’s death was caused by multiple injuries as a result of unlawful acts by unknown persons.