PM meets Teoh's family, vows action

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak met with Teoh Beng Hock's family at his office in Putrajaya this evening at 7.30pm.

According to a Bernama report, the prime minister gave the family his assurance that all effort would be made to find out the cause of the political aide's death during the 30-minute meeting.

Beng Hock's father Teoh Leong Hwee, mother Teng Shuw Hor, elder brother Teoh Beng Kee, younger sister Teoh Lee Lan and fiancee Soh Cher Wei were present at the meeting which was held at the invitation of the premier.

Najib, after offering his sympathies and condolences to the family, told them that he and his cabinet viewed Teoh's death with grave concern.

"No stone will be left unturned in finding out the real cause of death and, if there is any foul play, action will definitely be taken," Najib told them.

Teoh, 30, was found dead on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16 after being interviewed as a witness by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The commission is located on the 14th floor of the same building. Teoh was being questioned in connection with allegations that certain Selangor state assemblypersons had misused constituency funds.

Teoh was the political aide of Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah.

A solution for child's surname

At the meeting, Najib also explained to Teoh's family that the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry and the inquest constituted a two-pronged approach to find out the real cause of the unfortunate incident.

He said that the inquiry and inquest would find out whether any aspect as well as other measures taken (by MACC officers) could have been related to or led to the tragic incident.

Najib also said that he would ask the Attorney-General and relevant government departments to find a solution to a request from Soh to allow her unborn child to carry Teoh's surname.

Soh Cher Wei, 28, a school teacher from Semenyih, is two months' pregnant. Teoh was to have registered his marriage to Soh on July 17.

Also present at the meeting was Teoh's relative and former DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock.