Beng Hock’s family turns to God for answers

After five years of seeking answers, the family of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock, who died in custody, can now only hope for divine providence.

“This is the final resort of our family. We hope God will watch over us to ensure that the judicial system deliver a fair judgment for us,” Teoh Lee Lan said in a speech during a memorial to mark her brother’s death today.

Lee Lan (extreme right in photo) was referring to the family’s final appeal at the Appellate Court to challenge the open verdict of the coroner’s court in the inquest into Beng Hock’s death.

The family wants the coroner to rule foul play, in the case which saw Beng Hock’s body found on the ledge of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision building in Shah Alam, after an interrogation.

With this verdict, they hope police will be compelled to reopen the case which had captured the nation’s imagination.

“It had been five years since Beng Hock was taken away from us, and the truth remains unknown, justice has yet to prevail,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

Addressing her brother as though he was beside her, she told Beng Hock about his son, who was still in the womb when the 30-year-old died.

In your son's eyes

“You have missed many things about Er Jia. The moment he learnt how to crawl, walk, speak, read, draw and said ‘mummy’ and ‘daddy’.

“In his eyes, you always remain in black,” she said, referring to Teoh’s portrait, now immortalized on T-shirts, car stickers and other campaign materials, all in black and white.

Beng Hock, then the political secretary of Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead at Plaza Masalam on July 19, 2009, a day after he was brought in a witness in a corruption probe into Pakatan Rakyat representatives.

His family had been on the forefront of a campaign to seek answers over his death, and have often been photographed looking forlorn and in tears.

But today, Lee Lan tells well wishers that they have returned to life as they knew it

“I want to tell those who care about us, even though you see us in tears, we have begun to resume normal life. We laugh, we are playful, we enjoy things.

“But, deep in our hearts, this is still our biggest regret. We will still fight on until the truth prevails” she said.

Four-year-old Er Jia, who started nursery school last month and his mother Sor Cher Wei was not at the memorial today as she is a teacher in Johor, where Sunday is a working day.

Some 80 political leaders, activists and members of the public attended the memorial held at Teoh’s grve at Semenyih.

We wil never forget

They include DAP acting president Tan Kok Wai, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Ean Yong.

Guan Eng said that claims that Beng Hock had killed or choked himself was a replay of what happened in 1998, when now PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was accused of punching himself in the eye while in custody.

With the real culprit still free, Lim said, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has yet to honour his promise to seek the truth for the Teoh family.

"We will not forget Beng Hock, neither will we forget what BN has did to him.

“Up until now, there is no apology. Neither we know who's responsible for (his death)," Guan Eng said.

"He fought for a little more justice, freedom and democracy for the society.

“He sought a government that feared the people, rather than the people fearing their government.”