PM should be foreign minister instead for silence over Teoh NFA - activist

PM should be foreign minister instead for silence over Teoh NFA - activist


Published: Jun 14, 2025 10:36 PM
Updated: 12:36 AM


Summary

• Anwar Ibrahim should step down as prime minister due to his failure to ensure justice was done in the Teoh Beng Hock case and be foreign minister instead, says an NGO.

• The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement says Anwar has reneged on his promise to deliver justice and condemns his silence on the authorities’ decision to classify the case as NFA.

The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement has called for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister and become the foreign minister of Malaysia instead.

This followed the police’s decision to close their investigation into Teoh’s mysterious death in 2009 and classify it as no further action (NFA).

In a strongly worded statement, association chairperson Ng Yap Hwa expressed the group’s disappointment towards Anwar for keeping silent on the police decision.

He said the PKR president’s indifference and broken promises have disgraced his role as the prime minister and shown that his reformasi spirit is dead.

“If Anwar continues to ignore Teoh’s case and other domestic human rights issues concerning justice, neglecting his responsibility to Malaysian citizens, we urge him to resign as prime minister.

“He is no longer fit for the role. Instead, Anwar could serve as foreign minister or as an ambassador to the Middle East, continuing to speak out on anti-hegemony and anti-oppression on international stages.

“When Anwar met with the Teoh family in August 2024, he promised to reopen investigations into Teoh’s case based on the Court of Appeal ruling.

“However, the police continued to ignore the court’s conclusion that Teoh was killed and that MACC officers were suspects, refusing to gather further evidence to uncover the culprits responsible for this custodial death at the MACC office,” he said.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meeting with Teoh Beng Hock’s family members in August 2024


Ng said Anwar refused to invite internationally renowned forensic experts to join the investigation, using the excuse that the former police officers had retired and that the new police force should re-investigate the case.

“Now, the NFA result proves Anwar’s decision was entirely wrong, losing the best historical opportunity to realise justice for Teoh Beng Hock, a former staff of the Selangor government," he said.

Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement chairperson Ng Yap Hwa

Ng added that Anwar seemed to have abandoned the struggle for justice after being elected into office.


15-year-long struggle

In 2009, Teoh, an aide to then-Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead after overnight questioning at Selangor MACC, which was then headquartered at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

A 2011 Royal Commission of Inquiry ruled he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation. However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts, including those of MACC officers.

On Nov 21 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the police to complete the investigation into his death within six months after appeals court judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh allowed a judicial review application by Teoh’s parents.

In early February, police said they would utilise 3D crime scene reconstruction technology to assist in their renewed investigation.

However, later that month, the family accused the police of repeatedly questioning them instead of the MACC officers implicated in Teoh’s death.

In April, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Shuhaily Zain accused the family of being uncooperative, a charge they denied.

Suhaily also said that the investigations were hampered by limitations.

“The investigation is limited in terms of resources, as it was 15 years ago. We are unable to reinterview some witnesses, while others refused to come forward,” he had said.

On May 21, it was reported that police have relayed to the Teoh family lawyer Ramkarpal Singh that they have classified the case as NFA.