Beng Hock Memorial Ceremony (July 2012)
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If the world has not abandoned justice and love
Let women and men rise where I have fallen
And act to halt the spread of these corrupt pollens
Then my death will not be in vain!
– by Yeo Yang Poh
Press Statement by Teoh Lee Lan
(The Sister of The Late Teoh Beng Hock)
18-1-2012
It’s already 2012, could the PM please tell us when the Beng Hock case will be given due attention?
We, the family of Teoh Beng Hock, will be in Putrajaya at 9 a.m., 2 February 2012 for a Court of Appeal decision on the Teoh Beng Hock case judicial review.
In 2012 we are about to usher in the third Chinese New Year without Beng Hock and with the truth nowhere in sight.
We should like to ask: What actually happened on 16 July 2009 at the scene of Beng Hock’s death? Why have the various doubts we raised gone unanswered? For the past few years, we have asked such questions not once, not twice, but more than a thousand times at the courts, in the media, and at various forums, but every time silence was the answer. At this festival, when families are supposed to have reunions and everyone get together for celebration, we still have to be faced with these questions that frustrated us for thousands of times. The heavy clouds of doubt and specious “presuppositional” answers did not in any way help to give a true picture of what happened on the day of the incident except for throwing the truth into an even more dubious haze. Some would say, hasn’t a coroner’s court examined the case? Wasn’t a Royal Commission of Inquiry already set up? Hasn’t a report come out? It is true that all this the government has done. But do we have any idea who the people most responsible are? Have we heard any agency publicly give any hint of regret? Have we seen the suspects investigated? Have our doubts and suspicions been cleared up? Has the truth come to our knowledge?
Others would say, we should leave our grief behind and move on. In the face of an unconvincing criminal judicial system that has disappointed over and over again, however, we cannot but remind and question over and over again: “Where is the truth that we want?”
We still remember the waves of questioning voices that surged among the common people when the Royal Commission of Inquiry report came out. From that we have no problem discerning that Beng Hock actually carries the expectations of so many members of the public for the truth. Such expectations illustrate the concern of all for a society free from torture and violence in law enforcement as much as it does the importance of the truth. If the truth is regarded as unimportant, violence that escaped condemnation and punishment under the law may come back at any time to haunt all of us and the defence of other social values will all the more be out of the question.
The only thing we are asking for is to at least know the truth and have those responsible held responsible. Without this, can an ambiguous answer really comfort our hearts as the victim’s family? Can it really lay to rest the soul of a victim whose life was prematurely ended at the tender age of 30?
In memory of Teoh Beng Hock
Teoh El Sen
July 16, 2011 – FMTTeoh’s son Er Jia brought smiles with his cheeful disposition, while Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching read a heart-wrenching letter to her late friend.
SERI KEMBANGAN: The cute little toddler played and ran about, bringing a tinge of a smile to the crowd of serious-looking adults around him.
Clad in an orange shirt, the 17-month-old Teoh Er Jia’s cheerful disposition bore a stark contrast to the tears of his family and the sombre mood of some 400 people who gathered to commemorate the anniversary of his father’s death.
Today, marked the second year of Teoh Beng Hock’s death.
Last night, a memorial function in his honour was held at the Seri Kembangan multipurpose hall, attended by Teoh’s former employer, Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah and other DAP leaders.
Throughout the event, Er Jia was the centre of attention as his mother Soh Cher Wei received praises and support from the people.
At one point, the boy was seen reaching out to a photograph of Teoh, which was put beside his grandparents Teoh Leng Hwee and Cheong Siew Hwa.
Er Jia looked delighted when he was presented with a huge plush toy, shaped in a character from popular iPhone game Angry Birds, and was grabbing at the toy when presented to him on stage by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
The toy supposedly represented the “angry” feelings of the people towards Teoh’s death.
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching earlier read out a heart-wrenching letter during which Teoh’s family was seen wiping away tears as Teo “told” the deceased of the latest developments that had taken place since his death.
“Er Jia is now almost two-years-old. He is a very active child, and he looks like you. It’s been two long years since we have seen you…
“These days it’s been very difficult. You were really good at choosing a wife. Soh is very good. She doesn’t like to talk much and she always tells us she is alright, but it’s not so easy. It’s been very very painful. She is not in very good health, and Lee Lan (Teoh’s youngest sister) is always worried.
“She always tells me that if you were still here it would be good because Soh would have someone to rely on. I’m sure Soh also feels the same way,” she said.
She also said that Teoh’s brother Meng Kee was now married with a child, but “in our happiness for him, we were also sad. Why were you not here then?”
Teo added that the nation had changed much since his death.
“If you look down from heaven do you feel that Malaysia has become better or worse? Have Malaysians come together or grown further apart from each other? I don’ know.”
Referring to last Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally, the MP said Teoh would have definitely been a part of it if he was still alive.
“I remember how we use to discuss about changing the country. Last Saturday, we fought through tear gas. I was the cowardly one. If you were still here, you would be among them. You would have been those brave ones who uses action, rather than words. You would have seen on that day on the faces of these Malaysians, the future of the country. Please continue to guard us from above.”
Teo also sang a song in tribute to Teoh and recited a poem while a group of actors wearing black lay down on the floor to form the word “TRUTH”.
Sister: We need closure
During her speech, Lee Lan asked why the government had still failed to help the family find closure even after two years.
“Teoh are you here with us today? We all miss you very much. Time passes, it has already been two years. It feels just like yesterday that I saw you happily holding Soh’s hand when you went with her to find a wedding dress. Everyone was so happy and were looking forward to your wedding,” she said amidst sobs.
“I want to tell you today. I want truth… please help us point to the murderer. Why did you die? We all know you have been wronged. We are waiting for some justice.
“Why is it so hard (to get to the truth)? Tell me what should I do? What have I not done?” she cried.
In a message to the family of the late Selangor customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed, who also died while in MACC custody, Lee Lan said: “If you step out, I will accompany you. I will walk the entire nation with you to help fight for the truth. To tell everyone how unjust the government is. Join me as I hope I’m not alone here.”
She asked why the Royal Commission of Inquiry had yet to reveal its report. “Why do they tell us that they’re doing this for the rakyat, but all we’re hearing is just deafening silence?”
…source (FMT)
For A Better Malaysia 