Public outcry at Teo’s death: Due to selfish politicising? Or due to consistent, chronic history of MACC and Police abuse of prisoners?
Let’s start with those attacking politicians for “jumping to conclusions,” “racialising the issue,” “stirring hate against the authorities,” and insisting that we “wait for a full investigation.”
There is only one major problem.
Can we trust the investigators?
A. Kugan died in police custody from “drinking water.” Choong Soy Soy died in police custody after “slipping in the toilet.” Francis Udayappan “escaped prison, jumped into a river, and died” (how he was beheaded is yet unknown).
A racial issue? What about Adi Anwar, who was beaten half to death?
Is this really the first case of abuse involving the MACC? Or do they have a reputation for abuse?
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has lodged a report to counter allegations that an Umno division leader was assaulted by MACC officers during detention.
Earlier, the 46-year-old division leader from Maran, Pahang, reported that he was punched in the head, shoulder and stomach during his four-day remand in Kuantan.
He also claimed that he was forced to strip naked, lie and roll on the floor besides being asked to do squats and sing the national anthem repeatedly.
In his report, he also claimed an officer pressed him against the wall and threatened to arrest his wife and ask her to strip if he refused to confess that he had handed money to Umno members.
Also, Simpang Renggam Municipal Council administrator:
A Simpang Renggam Municipal Council administrator has accused Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission officers of physically abusing him during an investigation into a bribery case.
The 29-year-old alleged he was blindfolded, punched, kicked and had his clothes removed while held in a dark room for 12 hours by MACC officials here on Tuesday.
“I was told to remove my ring and wrist watch. They used my tie to blindfold me and took me to a room.
“There two officers questioned me about a working trip to Bandung, Indonesia, organised by contractors in April. I told them I did not know anything about this trip, and this was when the beatings began.”
Zul, who came to the New Straits Times office here yesterday, alleged that the officers at one time removed all his clothes and forced him to lie on the floor before one of them stepped on his shoulders.
He claimed he was taken to an officer’s room where he was told that he was the main witness in a bribery case they were investigating. “One of the officers warned me not to reveal what had taken place during the interrogation.”
Are we seeing a pattern? Let’s not forget that MACC probably consists largely of ex-cops.
The most pertinent question: So many incidents. Any single arrest for abuse of power?
Not a *single* law enforcement officer has been arrested, charged, or tried for inflicting grevious bodily harm.
To those talking about selfish politicians exploiting this death, I kindly request you take a reality check.
In honest to God truth, I don’t know what happened to Teo Beng Hock.
But I have read enough about how his lawyer M Manoharan (the recent ISA detainee who last spoke to him) said he was composed and well, how his boss YB Ean Yong Hian Wah said he had been calm and how distraught his fiancee was to consider suicide an extremely remote possibility.
Even in the very unlikely event that Teo threw himself out of the window, I don’t think anyone will believe that it didn’t have something to do with what the MACC did to him from 5pm to 3.45am.
It’s simply a case of credibility. Maybe if the unsolved deaths and abuses above were resolved to the greater satisfaction of the public, we might believe what the MACC and police have to say on this matter.
Under the circumstances though, Malaysian law enforcement has time and again forfeited all credibility and transparency. The public outcry at this is not due to some dumb politicians trying to make a quick profit. It’s due to a chronic history of abuse of power and lack of accountability.
Again, who knows what happened. RPK has one possible version. Zorro writes of possible torture and suspicious lack of blood. Maybe he was killed and thrown out the window. It’s all hard to say.
I just wish we had a more credible police force investigating.
Unless there is a true amount of transparency and clear proof regarding this case, public discontent will only continue to rise.
I’ll see you at the solidarity gathering at the Kelana Jaya stadium this Sunday at 4pm. Also possibly a vigil tonight, but I’m looking for confirmation of that and will update here if anything.
If we take a look at the list of questions asked we will know if they were threatening, intimidating and vindictive.
What were his answers?
Was he held till 4am to break him as they do to ISA detainees?
Did he sign his statement? If so at what time?
Does the MACC allow a stranger to linger around in its premises when he has no business to be there.
(Remember Teoh was released at 3.45am and he should not be allowed to stay there after that).
MACC was acting on a general complaint on Pakatan but never acted on specific complaints on UMNO.
These bastards will go to hell.
Kudos Nat, this is a very good summary BN spinners (Rocky and other cronies) should heed before putting they foot in their mouth.
1 Black Malaysia. Democracy First. Elections Now.
i) enough candlelight vigils..
ii) enough talk
iii) in short, enough of ‘civilsed’ protest…
it’s all about race. victims are mostly chinese and indians. we need our malay brothers to stand in front and fight for us.
good malays vs. evil malays (i.e. umno, musang hasan and gani patail and the macc chief – father of porn addict son).
4RAKYAT
nice summary… so sick of the likes of chunwai asking ppl not to ‘jump to conclusions’… A life is lost and they still want to harp at being so called ‘level-headed’ and ‘objective’, when the obvious problem has been there all the while.
wong chun wai, one day you will face tragedy and your children or family members. We will not not jump to conclusion that you have been cursed for all the evil you have promoted in your journalism.
This govt. has gone on the offensive to put down dissent. They will do it by any means. That means they will play the race card, make people disappear,intimidation etc. The evidence is what you are seeing presently and for some time now. They do it for their survival.
They have cohorts in the Institutions eg. police etc.
Some like the buisness leaders,intellectuals etc are joining the bandwagon for obvious benefits of self-gratifaction.
It is for all Malaysians to say loudly, ‘enough is enough’. Fair governance and rule of law should be brought back to this country as was originally championed by the first PM.
[...] Kes-kes terdahulu : Siasatan terhadap Ketua UMNO Bahagian di Pahang. [...]
crook(police) to investigate crook(macc)
it’ll be one massive crook cover up
This reminds me of a movie plot where the interrogators accidentally killed a suspect, and to cover up the act, they threw the suspect down the building and alleged that the suspect committed suicide, hence there was no blood ‘cos the suspect was already dead long before he was thrown off the building.
The death is tragic and pressure to investigate the truth should be raised not only on the MACC but also on the highest government leaders.
The fact that Teo was an ex-journalist should be emphasised by the media and blogs. Journalists who have entered opposition politics are often the target of assasinations/murders. Russia is the most prominent example.
If these things can happen to an ex-Sin Chew reporter, then the guys at MACC must be very careful of the repercussions. Najib’s popularity ratings may plunge. Or is this an internal sabotage by UMNO warlords trying to reverse the PM’s ratings?
My intuition says that, this time, the truth will not be covered up. The young man was about to start a new career and a new marriage. No decent Msian family-oriented citizen will rest unitl the truth is known and the criminals (if any are found to be guilty) are prosecuted.
Who could benefit from his death?
This guy is a key witness to MACC to prosecute those to be charged.
Obviously this young guy knew a lot and must have said a lot the fact that the interview finished very late ( 3.45am )
He was seen still loitering at the building at 6am later.
Why is he still there. afraid to leave the building?
Afraid of the threat from the underworld/triads on all the informations exposed to MACC?
To point finger to MACC is totally absurd. Plus in their own building? eliminating their key witness?
Who would think of that?
Plus there are cctv in the premises.
Please read the story about” the father and the son” put up by RPK just few days ago . I believe those government idoits who support this present federal government are doing all evils for the sake of keeping them in power . They just can’t lose the control or else they will all die together because of all their dirty deeds in the pass .
Every evil idiot is holding the balls of each other and if you touch one you will also die, so the only way to be be safe is to play the dirty game together . I believe at the end many will still die because of their own deeds as our sins will find us . How sad for a beautiful country like ours is going to be ruined up by this bunch of selfish and greedy people without giving a thought for their future generations . May be be with us .
I don’t really know what’s happening to this country. You can’t even trust the one who is suppose to protect you. I still prefer going back to the sixties and seventies be it backwards but you are rest assured when walking down the road in the middle of the night and it is the strays that you’re worried.
My last line should read ” May peace be with you”
Strongly encourage everyone to wear Black clothes within this week to remember Teoh”s death for he died a sacrificial lamb for the sake of fighting against the evils . Please do so for someone who tried to walk the way to protect our future generations from the hands of the exploits.
Can somebody teach me how to be registered with Malaysia Today in order to blog.Somehow I could not do it . Thanks.
This bunch of people in MACC is doing something which is against ALLAH’s will . They bring shame to those who truly follow the teaching of Islam. Life is created by ALLAH and no one should torture or kill someone.As muslim everyone should pray to ALLAH to remove the veil from their eyes , so they might see and follow the true teachings of ISLAM .May ALLAH release them from the hands of the evil ones.
The mathemetic is simple and this is part of a bigger tact by the umno intelligence. Sniffing Azmin attacking their fellow lawmakers, MACC swung into action making it looked like Azmin stabbing his colleagues supposedly feeding infos to MACC on their supposed wrongdoings.
Mission is to break-up the Pakatan government.
Teo’s death will only put a brake on their strategy but believe be it will contineu no matter how.
When I leave this comment, I don’t dare to leave my real name. I am afraid to express my opinion. When I am on the street, I am afraid to wear black. I am not allowed to hold a candle in public. I always have doubts when reading/watching Malaysian mainstream media. I don’t know whether the local policeman is my enemy or my protector.
When I leave my house, I have to worry if I will get attacked by snatch thieves. I can’t leave my laptop in the car when I get lunch at a restaurant.
When I graduate from the University, I am not sure if I can find a job. If I do find a job, I am not sure if I have enough to save for retirement with my salary. If I start my company, I am not sure if I can successfully run my company with only pure hard work and without the network of ‘powerful people’ in my circle of ‘friends’.
If I work for a political party that is not the ruling government, I fear for my life.
Can my country do better?
On the plus side, health care is affordable.
[...] Public outcry at Teo’s death: Due to selfish politicising? Or due to consistent, chronic histo… [...]
so far there is no clear reason for this young man to end his life in this manner and time….. there are lots of possibilities … told and untold. ….. accused … assumptions … but the thing is still very unclear .. why this person need to end his life is still nobody knows why …..
if it is not for an accident …. the other side of the coin must be very very very ……either direct or indirect … direct or divert … situational analysis will help in a way or two.
****** stop all clues & questions ****
by raising all minor and detailed questions, you are giving macc & barisan & police oppotrtunities to think of counter-replies.
KEEP ALL QUESTIONS TO YOURSEVES, FOR NOW…
JUST PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST!!
when the royal commission of inquiry is set up, THEN u come out with all your questions.
pls refrain to spill all questions (keep them for later).
the macc & police are scanning the internet for possible loopholes that they might have missed!!
please inform others..
4RAKYAT
Enough is enough! stop all the poligimicks. Malaysia is still our beloved country. This is all politics. Oppposition parties is taking this golden opportunities on the the death of Teoh Beng Hock to eliminate UMNO and the Barisan for simple reason to take over the Government. I swear in the name of God, if the Pakatan Rakyat take over Barisan it will be more worst than the BN government. As of now I would like to keep the status quo. Don’t give the BN the 2/3 majority so that they will be on their toes all the time. We still need a strong opposition parties to bark in parliament.
Since our independence the Government under BN is still acceptable to the rakyat. The only problem now are some DUN’s and MP’s which need to be given the boots.
John Rambo