Teoh's family to 'follow PM' until truth is out

More than a year after his sudden death, the family of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock is bent on holding Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to his promise that the truth will be revealed.

"If he is too busy to remember his promise to our family, then we will follow him wherever he goes and remind him. My brother cannot die from torture just like that. He cannot," Teoh's sister Lee Lan said in between sobs.

Lee Lan was speaking at the launch of the 'Malaysians for Beng Hock' support group at the Shah Alam court complex today. She was accompanied by her parents who also shed tears while clutching Teoh's portrait.

Najib had last year vowed to the family that the government would not spare any effort in uncovering the truth behind the death of Teoh, 30.

His body was found on July 16, on the fifth floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

He had been interrogated overnight as a witness by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which has its office on the 14th floor of the building.

'No' to torture

The continuation of the inquest into his death stalled this morning, when it was found that the attorney-general's chambers has been withholding a document from lawyers representing the family and the Selangor government.

"We are disappointed with the MACC's delay tactics during the inquest and the way they have smeared my brother's and our family's good name," said Lee Lan.

She said that what the family is fighting for goes beyond her brother's death, following 11 hours of questioning which she described as "mental torture".

"I do not dare imagine what other sorts of torture he went through. Let us work towards a Malaysia that is free from torture. No one should be tortured and killed, be it in the MACC office, police lock-up, jail or detention camp," she said.

The 'Malaysians for Beng Hock' is an online support group that is lobbying for a torture-free Malaysia.

According to initiator Chong Kok Siong, the group will rally the masses in continuing to pressure the government over Teoh's case.

Royal commission not ruled out

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after a 45-minute meeting with the family, Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang said the new development raises doubts about the Attorney General's seriousness in seeking the truth behind the death.

When asked if he is advocating for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to be set up, Lim said, "The option is always there...Whatever reservations we have (about the inquest), we hope the truth will come out."

Lim added that he has not seen the new evidence and as such is in no position to comment on its veracity, nor to confirm if it is indeed Teoh's 'final testament' as speculated.

Teoh's family members also kept mum when asked if they doubted the authenticity of the document, asking reporters to instead pose the question to the attorney general.

Asked if she had seen the document, Lee Lan said: "(Our lawyer) told us whatever we need to know".