Driven To Suicide?

I'm really very curious to know who in Malaysia actually believes that.

Teoh Beng Hock was not a criminal. He had nothing to hide. His boss Ean Yong was cleared of any wrong-doing.

Moreover, he was due to be married the next day to the woman who was carrying his child.

NOTHING, and absolutely NOTHING in my opinion, would have driven him to suicide.

The RCI can conjure up anything, but the public know the truth.

Just Like Teoh Beng Hock

Right after lunch, my friend excitedly sent me this news article:

A Customs officer died today after falling from the third floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building on Jalan Cochrane where he was being investigated over a billion ringgit in unpaid taxes.

My first reaction was one of shock. My second was one of incredulity - you'd think with Teoh Beng Hock's death, the MACC would be more careful when carrying out their interrogations.

I was shocked because I had been hearing the news of this customs officer being investigated on every radio station on my way to work. No name was supplied, as far as I could remember.

I distinctly remember this news being broadcast on the radio because I used to roll my eyes so frequently at the MACC's attempt to look as if they investigate anyone who is involved in graft and corruption - and not only political opponents.

If MACC was genuinely sincere about fighting corruption, they would haul in all the BN politicians and have them account for their huge mansions cum palaces that they dwell in and the multiple trips that they take abroad at the expense of the tax payer.

But MACC does not do that.

Instead, it victimizes a young political aide and is instrumental in his premature death - just a day before his wedding at that!

This shocks the entire nation, and to date, nothing appears to appease or placate the public outrage. Not a "suicide note", not an Royal Commission of Inquiry.

It is dangerous especially now during election season, where public anger towards BN could potentially lead to BN losing seats to PR in a BIG way.

On the banner it is written "SIAPA BUNUH BENG HOCK??? SPRM, JANGAN JADI SURUHANJAYA PEMBUNUH RAKYAT MALAYSIA".

So this political angle has to be neutralised. BN doesn't want to be seen as the dominant bully who heartlessly kills its opponents. BN doesn't want to be punished.

MACC can no longer be seen as an ally of BN, or vice versa. In fact, it appears that MACC has been chosen to take the rap for allowing its witnesses to:
- commit suicide
- fall out of windows
- grow wings and attempt to fly
- test the theory of gravity
- display no sense of barophobia (learned a new word today, haven't you?)

Of course, MACC's insistent claim is that Teoh Beng Hock committed suicide. They say that is generally what people who have committed a crime and been caught red-handed do.

Now they are going to say that this custom officer had a huge sense of guilt and decided to end his own life. Just like Teoh Beng Hock.

It is just a matter of convenience that they have not disclosed the name of the customs officer in question. Though it really doesn't matter.

You and I are not going to do a DNA check on the dead man's body to verify if it really is the customs officer or some vagabond they found on the side of the road that no one cared about.

As long as they convince some people that the BN government and the MACC play by the rules. That is their goal and motive.

Votes.

Not Suicide, Not Homicide, Then What? Accident?

A lot of people are disappointed with the outcome but a bigger number appear to have expected that the MACC would go scot free.

Logically, it is shocking that there could be absolutely no evidence of what had really happened.

In a tight-security place like the office of the Anti-Corruption Commission, it is a little hard to believe that there were no security cameras, no CCTVs that could have shed some light.

My deduction is, those cameras actually spell the truth in over a thousand words and could potentially seal the fate of the MACC and consequently the government.

So all that footage had to be disposed off before it got into the wrong hands. It is entirely possible that the CCTV cameras were dismantled and put away for good measure.

Even if there was no homicide, there was a lot of wrong being committed over an insignificant little "corruption" case that no one really knows about or cares.

Evidence from expert witnesses showed that Teoh had suffered a pre-fall injury on the neck, which could have caused the deprivation of oxygen to his brain, resulting in loss of consciousness or disorientation.

It begs the question: Who inflicted that pre-fall injury? And why? Is that standard operating procedure in a Malaysian interrogation?

And yet, the coroner said, "After evaluating the evidence of the pathologists, I find that there is no sufficient evidence to confirm beyond reasonable doubt that this pre-fall injury did in fact facilitate, result or contribute to Teoh's demise."

Perhaps there may indeed have been insufficient evidence.

But I think in the minds of most Malaysians, the fact that even the coroner was unable to absolve MACC from its pre-fall guilt speaks volumes.

The Teoh Beng Hock Inquest

Apart from a dismal (though amusing) performance from the MACC, nothing much has developed from the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.

Perhaps there isn't enough pressure on the government.

Anyway, lawyers from both sides will make their submission at the next session, the coroner will deliver his verdict after the submission and the inquest should end soon.

Date : 17 Dec 2010 (Fri)
Time : 9:30am
Venue : Room 5, Shah Alam High Court


All Malaysians - the Teoh family, you and I - have been asking for the truth for Beng Hock, and thus your attendance at the inquest will be a strong support to Teoh family to continue to seek justice.

The Teoh Beng Hock Inquest

Remember how the last session of Teoh Beng Hock's inquest went?

Please attend and support his family. Your presence will make a difference.

Date: 14/10/10 (Thursday)
Time: 2pm
Venue: Shah Alam High Court

Lawyer Gobind Singh will interrogate witness about the ‘note’.

If you have any queries, please call Yap Hwa at 012-2658448

One Word: Champion!

Never in the history of Malaysian law has there been this much forehead-slapping.

Never before have so many eyes rolled collectively in exasperation and annoyance. In fact, the vortex caused by all that eye-rolling is probably contributing to the formation of a tornado in Kansas or New Mexico right this very moment.

The credit goes to one man - Abdul Razak Musa, a specimen of certifiably limited intelligence, who represents the MACC over the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.

I wasn't in the courtroom, so I had trouble believing the Malaysiakini report, but according to some of my sources who witnessed the shenanigans first-hand, the following events actually did happen.

He began by trying to smear the forensic pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand's credibility as an expert witness. According to my sister the lawyer, this is an accepted practice in persuading the judge to dismiss the witness' opinion.

"Did you know that the university that you graduated from is not recognised in Malaysia?" Abdul Razak Musa, the dumb fool asked.

To that, Pornthip answered, "But it is in the top five in Asia."

If he had done his homework properly, he would have known that it isn't in the top five. It is either the seventh or eighth. I checked.

It is, however, still a very embarrassing point as no Malaysian university comes even close. Somehow I think that point was lost on him.

If someone had told me this was going to be a cross between the Jerry Springer show and a PT Barnum circus, I would have taken the day off and gone to watch. These days you can't get this sort of entertainment for free.

Our hero went on to suggest that Teoh had strangled himself and even went as far as to demonstrate this on himself.


If you thought nothing could possibly be worse than that, you would be wrong. For the grand finale, Abdul Razak Musa asked Pornthip if she had any experience jumping off a building.

Champion.

The mainstream media however, managed to sanitise their version of it, so that the entire proceedings actually appeared sane.

How I pity those stalwart supporters of the mainstream media. They have no clue what they've missed.

Saving Private Interests

When I was still a young ciku, the world of cinematography yielded a somewhat popular WWII movie entitled Saving Private Ryan.

Being an American movie (and a Steven Spielberg one at that), it was highly dramatic coupled with generous infusion of patriotism and brotherly love.

In 1998, I was certainly much less cynical than I am today, so I enjoyed the storyline which detailed the arduous effort of rescuing a fallen serviceman during the Normandy invasion.

Today, in Malaysia, a similar effort is being exerted.

Individuals In Collusion With Raja Petra Can Be Hauled Up - Musa:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said individuals in collusion with fugitive Raja Petra Kamaruddin can be hauled up under the law.

"We can propose to charge them for harbouring criminals but it is up to the court to decide," he said when asked what police (PDRM) were doing to bring Raja Petra home.

Newspapers recently ran a photograph of Raja Petra together with private investigator P.Balasubramian and Federal Territory Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Musa said PDRM could not act in haste to record statements from them as procedures had to be followed.

"We can't go to the country to detain him as it too has laws but this does not mean that we can't act.

He said although Interpol had refused to track down the Malaysia Today webmaster, PDRM had other initiatives and strategies to detain him.

It matters not that Interpol had rightfully reviewed the reasons behind this extradition and decided those reasons were not valid.

By hook or crook, the police - and by proxy the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional - want Raja Petra Kamarudin back on Malaysian soil so they can control the damage he inflicts to their reputation.

I hate to break this to you, but there is no brotherly love lost here.

Lest you think Malaysia has no serious issues (to the extent that the police are spending so much time on a futile exercise), we have had a young woman blown up with C4 explosives.

There has been no motive established, and her killers were identified as two commandos who worked for the BN government. Justice has yet to be served for that young Mongolian woman.

And then we had a young man fall to his death when he was pushed off a building. He would have become a father, but he never saw his son.

We have also had a number of missing children who may have been kidnapped and trafficked into other countries. Someone needs to bring them back to their families.

Raja Petra Kamarudin is not the priority here.

Beating Around The Bush

I don't read the mainstream media, but a friend pointed this article out:

SHAH ALAM: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) counsel Datuk Abdul Razak Musa caused a stir at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest yesterday when he questioned why the deceased was lodging with a woman friend and her family instead of living with his brother Meng Kee.

“His brother lives in Shah Alam and he (Teoh) works in Shah Alam. So, why did he stay with another woman instead of with his brother? The whole country wants to know this," said Abdul Razak.

Actually no, I really couldn't care less where Teoh was staying. I just want to know for sure why and how he was killed.

Trying To Eliminate Witnesses?

From Lim Kit Siang:

Gobind just phoned.

Police are picking up T. Sivanesan, witness at Teoh Beng Hock's inquest yesterday giving first-hand account of MACC torture.

Police are now at Sivanesan's house at Jenjarom to take him to Jenjarom police station.

Gobind is on his way to Sivanesan's Jenjarom house.

UPDATED: Read KTemoc's take on whether MACC tortured Sivanesan into 'confession'?

Being a witness against the government is a dangerous position to be in.

Deaths In Custody

Some time ago, when people were still outraged at the murder of Teoh Beng Hock, I sent an Australian colleague a link to a video in Malaysiakini.

Said Australian colleague did some research and came up with some other interesting but factual links. "I have really been moved by the news about this guy," he admitted.

I understand. I was moved during my "first" news of death in custody, a young alleged criminal named Kugan.

Now the fellow might have been up to some mischief (car theft, if I'm not mistaken), but it does not deserve torture to the extent of those kind of injuries.

Haris Ibrahim attended the funeral of Gunasegaran, the latest civilian to die in police custody - incidentally on the same day as Teoh Beng Hock. He was severely assaulted before he died.

That begs the question: how many people exactly are dying under police custody??

You wouldn't expect the mainsteam media to have that sort of information, but you may be rather surprised.

However, Bernama conveniently removes old news, so I am copying and pasting this in its entirety instead of linking it, but this bit of news actually comes from the horse's mouth - the government itself.

If you're alert, you may find the numbers don't tally and there are holes in the story.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Rakyat was told Tuesday there were 1,535 deaths in prisons, rehabilitation centres and detention centres for illegal immigrants between 2003 and last year.

There were 600 deaths in drug rehabilitation centres, according to the Prisons Department records. Deputy Home Minister Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said the country's prisons had a better track record compared to prisons in the United Kingdom if that country's 'benchmarking' figures were used.

"In 2007, the number of deaths in British prisons was 183 while here there were only three.

"Most of the deaths were in hospitals, that is when the prisoners were undergoing treatment, one per cent of the deaths occurred while they were on the way to hospital and 0.5 per cent happened in the prisons," he said in reply to a supplementary question from M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat).

Kulasegaran wanted to know the cause of detainees' deaths and asked if there was a special body to investigate deaths in prisons and detention centres.

Wan Ahmad Farid said according to police statistics there were 85 deaths recorded in police lock-ups during the 2003-2007 period of which 77 were due to diseases, seven due to suicide by hanging and one due to a fight in the cell.

"There was only one death in police custody due to excessive force by those on duty," he said.

He said based on medical officers' and coroners' reports, the main cause of deaths were diseases like HIV/Aids, septicaemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, cancer, heart disease, blood-related problems and asthma as well as infections of the intestines, liver, lungs and throat.

Wan Ahmad Farid said there were also deaths due to hanging, blood clots and falls in the bathrooms or toilets.

He said follow-up action taken to overcome deaths included having closed-circuit surveillance in all areas, increasing visits and patrols as well as having dialogue sessions with detainees to identify problems they faced.-- BERNAMA , 8/7/2008

SUARAM (the Penang branch) has more stats.

The Asian Human Rights Commission has an insight into this sordid issue:

Throughout 2003, there were numerous incidents of police brutality against criminal suspects resulting in serious injuries and deaths. In many cases, the victims were poor, had little education and lacked the proper “connections” to ensure proper treatment from the police. The treatment meted out against these suspects is a stark contrast to that accorded to persons of different backgrounds—namely professionals, affluent or well-connected people.

But yes. If you've read the article or done your homework on deaths in custody, you'd be aware that most of the victims are the poor, uneducated Indians.

When their families claimed their bodies, the police categorically denied having assaulted them.

And yet, there were always signs of injuries - gashes and wounds.

Of All Ethnic And Religious Backgrounds

In the midst of all the agitation and confrontation with the authorities during the anti-ISA protest, I had this warm, fuzzy feeling.

I caught sight of this banner that decries the murder of Teoh Beng Hock by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission or Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

On the banner it is written "SIAPA BUNUH BENG HOCK??? SPRM, JANGAN JADI SURUHANJAYA PEMBUNUH RAKYAT MALAYSIA".


Teoh was Chinese, but these demonstrators are Malays. At that point, his death no longer became a racial issue. People just came together as Malaysians and spoke out against what was obviously wrong.

A commenter named Eric left a note on my blog:

Yesterday Malaysians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, both genders and all skin colours, walked together on a matter of national policy. This was simply beautiful.

I was there. I saw black-clad Malaysian Chinese who shared light moments with tudung-clad Malaysian Malay ladies, brave Unit Amal members giving salt (against tear gas) to Hindraf supporters.

That's why BN is so enraged. Malaysians built history together yesterday, as they did in the Hartal and the PUTERA-AMCJA people's constitution days. Malaysians have a history together, though it has been hidden to them for decades. They just proved they will build a future together!

Yes, there is hope yet.

On The Issue Of Politicising

People go to strange lengths for comic relief. I read the NST. (On occasion, not all the time. Even *I'm* not that perverted.)

And there was one particular "letter" from a supposed reader that made me shake my head with disbelief:

TEOH BENG HOCK’S DEATH: Games for politicians

I don't know who this dude is - if he really exists or has been planted as an agent provocateur.

Now some of you may have read Haris Ibrahim's piece on politicising Beng Hock's death and the subsequent rebuttal by Nathaniel Tan.

At some point, while this incident has certainly been in Pakatan Rakyat's favour, we must admit that Teoh Beng Hock was a political aide - he was neck deep in politics.

And those who are angry and call for justice are his personal friends, colleagues and comrades.

I personally have met Ronnie Liu - the "senior Selangor exco member from Pakatan Rakyat who "barged into the offices of the MACC" and "screamed at the security guards, banging on doors with his fists".

Ronnie Liu is passionate and caring. I can understand why he acted such. Heck, if I had a friend or colleague treated that way by anyone, I'd do more than barge into offices and scream at stupid security guards. Trust me.

The MACC should have allowed Teoh's family to see his body with the presence of their lawyer. But MACC refused, for reasons they refused to divulge.

Everyone knew there was foul play going on and if they weren't incensed about that, I honestly don't know what's wrong with them.

I hope this CALVIN SANKARAN of Bukit Mertajam doesn't exist. But if he does, I hope there are no more like him.

Sign The Petition For Beng Hock

I've wondered a number of times if signing petitions actually make a difference.

But I decided that now is not the time to second guess. I will stand up and demand justice for the young man whose life was cruelly snatched from him.

Not just for him. For his family and loved ones, too. And those whose lives can be saved in the future because of the message our indignance sends to the careless MACC and other government authorities.

Honestly, I don't care if they establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate. It won't make a difference - there will be a cover-up, anyway.

But I want the MACC director's resignation and an unconditional apology from the foul-mouthed Nazri Aziz. We need to send the message that we're angry and won't put up with such garbage.

Go sign this petition. You can make a difference too.

Who's Your Daddy?

Not only was Teoh Beng Hock going to be married, he was also expecting a child.

In Malaysia (and probably in other conservative holes on this planet), two pieces of paper are of paramount importance in a child's life.

One is its birth certificate. The other is the marriage certificate belonging to its parents, without which its father will be deemed unknown unless he shows up at the registrar's office to have his name imprinted.

In this case, we know that's not going to happen.

PUTRAJAYA: Soh Cher Wei may not be able to register Teoh Beng Hock as the father of her child.

National Registration Department public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said the marriage certificate of the child's parents must be forwarded to register a child.

In the case of a child born out of wedlock, the father has to be physically present before the registrar to have his name included in the document.

Jainisah pointed out that it was not possible for the department to register Teoh's name as the child's father as there was no provision for such a process.

"In this case, when the child is born, the baby's birth certificate will only carry the mother's details.

"The child will also carry the mother's surname," Jainisah told the New Straits Times yesterday, adding that any changes to the existing procedures of registering a child would set a precedent.

Soh, 28, had said she would go ahead to legalise Teoh as the father of her unborn child.

She had also said she would give her child the Teoh family name, although she was unsure how to go about it as the marriage plans were shattered following his death.

Soh, a teacher, also said that she would discuss solemnising her marriage according to traditional Chinese rites with Teoh's family after the funeral.

The status of the child was among the main concerns raised by Teoh's family as the couple had yet to register their marriage.

Now there are legal reasons why these requirements were set.

A woman can claim that any man is the father of her child and the onus would be on the man to prove that it isn't his, especially if he was wealthy and connected - a celebrity or public figure (which is usually the case).

To avoid such a hassle, a marriage certificate or the man in question being physically present would put rest to it.

But no one has any doubt as to whom the father of Soh Cher Wei's baby is. In fact, even Teoh's family appears to have claimed the child as well.

So it would be a simple matter for the National Registration Department (NRD) to sort it out.

But for now, they're dragging their feet with excuses.

You know why? Some time in the future, they will relent, but it will seem like such a huge effort on the part of the authorities (in this case, BN) to settle this case.

And everyone will be brimming with gratitude and appreciation for the NRD and the government for finally allowing the baby to 'legally have a father'.

People will forget that this situation would never have existed, should Teoh Beng Hock never have been hurled off the window at Plaza Masalam.

Time heals wounds. But sometimes, for the wrong reasons.

Don't Let His Death Be In Vain

Time to make your voice heard.

He was someone's son, someone's other half, someone's father, someone's friend, someone's political aide...

Justice for Teoh Beng Hock
Venue : Stadium Kelana Jaya
Date : 19 July 2009, Sunday
Time : 4.30pm
Attire : Black

Rats Desert The Sinking Ship

Hardly surprising, really.

With the death of Teoh Beng Hock, it's probably a suicide mission (no pun intended) to be affiliated with Barisan Nasional.

More so if you're the running dog.

So Chua Jui Meng is taking a walk. And PKR appears to have embraced him with open arms.

If you ask me, PKR is infiltrated by ex-UMNO already. An additional supply of ex-MCA wouldn't make a huge difference.

He Jumped Off The Roof

Yeah right. And my name is Mighty Mouse.

The notion that he jumped off the roof is just as ludicrous as expecting the public to believe that Teoh Beng Hock would voluntarily choose to sleep overnight in the very same place he was interrogated.

He had a big day ahead of him and he takes a nap at the MACC headquarters? Spin me another one, for the love of God; this one is too stupid to be swallowed.

But just when you think the situation couldn't get more insane, the mother of all idiots, Nazri Aziz opens his mouth, saying, "Then he should have gone home (instead)....and how would we know that he would jump out of the building?"

Folks, obviously someone thinks we are really stupid.

This was a political aide who had nothing to hide. Not an MB with a Balinese-style house worth RM24 million, not a Prime Minister in-waiting who had affairs with a Mongolian model cum translator, not your average Barisan Nasional crook with a hundred corruptions to his name.

Just a simple 30 year old who was due to be married the next day.

But that's the whole issue, isn't it?

Pakatan Rakyat has obviously been showing up all the inadequacies and misdemeanours of Barisan Nasional in recent days.

It's not a difficult feat. Barisan Nasional is obviously steeped in corruption and crime.

So this is probably what happened: the MACC was ordered to find dirt on Pakatan Rakyat. At all costs.

Unfortunately (for BN), it looks like those affiliated with Pakatan Rakyat are actually clean. I find it hard to believe, but at this point, I think it's safe to say that Pakatan Rakyat hasn't got its hands dirty yet.

Unbelievable. And I thought all politicians were like dirty diapers.

So the MACC had to resort to desperate measures. I think there are two possibilities.

Firstly, it's possible that they tried to dangle Teoh Beng Hock from a window to intimidate him. But instead of merely scaring the crap out of him, they went and dropped him.

Secondly, it's possible that they tortured him using all methods and went too far, resulting in his death. That would explain various reports that there was no blood at the scene. He was planted there to look like he had taken a tumble when he probably died some time earlier.

And that would explain why they absolutely refused to let the family lawyer be present to identify the body. They have plenty to hide. Oh, they do.

It's evident at this point that Teoh Beng Hock's death is shrouded in mystery. Watch the Malaysiakini.tv video to get more insight on what the family lawyer says.