[Malaysiakini] Solemn atmosphere at Plaza Masalam
~ Kuek Ser Kuang Keng and Jimadie Shah Othman
A solemn, sad atmosphere descended on Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam this morning as family members of Teoh Beng Hock, Selangor state exco members and politicians gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of the political aide's mysterious death.
About 50 people were present, led by Teoh's former employer and state exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, along with his counterparts Hasan Ali, Ronnie Liu, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, Dr Halimah Ali and Elizabeth Wong.
Others present included Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, as well as Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Swee Lin and Teratai assemblyperson Janice Lee.
Earlier, the gathering held a mini rally at the plaza lobby as leaders took turn to address the floor. Most brought flowers with them, and many tried to get to the fifth floor, where the 30-year-old Teoh was found dead after a night of questioning at the Selangor office of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission there.
However, the building management only allowed Teoh's family members, Ean Yong, Hasan, Wong and Teo to enter the fifth floor balcony.
Teoh's younger sister Lee Lan (centre in blue) said the family would try to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak again if they were not satisfied with the outcome of the inquest.
"Najib said the inquest will take two weeks, the most two months, but it has been one year now.
"He said we can meet him again if we are not satisfied. We asked him for a letter of guarantee, but he has ignored us. If the inquest gives us an unacceptable result, we will definitely go to see him."
Lee Lan said family members had compromised and agreed to the inquest, instead of a royal commission, "because Najib had said that according to the constitution, we must have inquest first".
She said MACC's chief Abu Kassim Mohamed's statement yesterday, in which he said the commission felt the family's pain, was pure hypocrisy.
"He has been MACC chief for six months. His lawyer had several times tried to stop Thai pathologist Dr Porntip Rojanasunand from testifying through video conferencing.
"If he wants the truth, he should allow Dr Porntip to testify through video conferencing. He was conflicting himself in his statement yesterday. If he is sincere, he will not do things that go against what he has said."
Lee Lan reiterated that the family members "will not be cheated by the MACC chief".
Taken from Malaysiakini.
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