Exco's aide falls to death from MACC HQ

The aide of a Selangor state executive councillor plunged to his death from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor headquarters in Shah Alam.

Teoh Beng Hock's body was found on the rooftop of a building next to the towering block which houses the MACC headquarters.

The 30-year-old former journalist was DAP exco Ean Yong Hian Wah's political secretary.

He was believed to have fallen from the 14th floor of the tower block where the MACC Selangor office is located early this afternoon.

Yesterday, Teo was taken to the MACC headquarters for questioning in relation to a probe concerning several Pakatan assemblypersons.

When the news of his death broke, Pakatan leaders, including Ean, rushed to the building.

Other DAP leaders at the MACC headquarters are Ronnie Liu, Teng Chang Khim and Tony Pua.

Both Liu and Teng, who were at building for more than an hour, confirmed that Teo had died.

Earlier, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told Malaysiakini that the case was being investigated.

Speaking to reporters later, the police chief said the deceased was found clad in a black jacket, blue shirt and white pants.

Lawyer: He looked happy

MACC investigation division director Shukri Abdull (Picture) told reporters that Teo was released at 3.45am but did not go home.

According to him, Teo had wanted to rest for a while in the pantry of the MACC office. He was seen still sleeping there at 6am.

"Nobody saw him after that until his body was found at around 1.30pm," he said.

He repeatedly stressed that Teo was merely a witness in the investigation and not being probed.

Asked how they discovered the body, Shukri said they were alerted when they heard someone scream.

His lawyer M Manoharan, who accompanied Teo to the MACC office yesterday, said the deceased looked normal and showed no signs of being under stress.

"He was happy and looked composed. I had advised him how to handle the interrogation as I was not allowed in during questioning," he said.

Manoharan, who is the Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, last saw Teo at around 7pm yesterday.

As of 6pm this evening, Teo's body was still on the roof top of the building.

Teo's laptop seized yesterday

Ean's office was raided by the MACC yesterday where officers confiscated a laptop belonging to Teo as well as a desktop computer.

The MACC also raided the office of Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San yesterday.

Apart from Ean and Lau, six other Pakatan elected representatives are also under investigation - Teresa Kok (Kinrara), Hannah Yeoh (Subang), Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanjan), Dr Cheah Wing Yin (Damansara Utama) and Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

The commission had earlier quizzed several people, including the personal aides of five assemblypersons - Ean, Lau, Kok, Wong and Yeoh.

Selangor state representatives are given RM500,000 each every year to fund community programmes in their respective constituencies. The MACC has alleged that the funds have been abused by the elected representatives.

R Sivarasa, who is Subang parliamentarian, said that the death was under very suspicious circumstances.

"At this point, we are holding MACC responsible until we get a better explanation."

Meanwhile, Kok asked why MACC took Teo away for interrogation at 5.40pm yesterday thus forcing him to stay in the building overnight.

Pua wondered why Teo would want to stay back after he was released by his interrogators. “Anyone who is asked for statements would be told to leave after the procedure is over.”

He lamented that Teo's lawyer, Manoharan, was not allowed to be present during the interrogation.

Halimah Ali, a PAS exco in the Selangor government, also revealed that Teo had his car in the MACC building. “There is no reason for him not to go home."


By Malaysiakini
16th July 2009