Teoh case: Activist urges DAP minister shake-up, not govt pullout
Lee Way Loon
Published: Jun 12, 2025 8:00 PM
Updated: Jun 13, 2025 9:28 AM
Summary
- The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement clarifies it doesn’t want DAP to leave the government, just for DAP ministers to be replaced with other party leaders.
- Association chairperson Ng Yap Hwa suggests several alternative DAP MPs who have raised Teoh’s death in custody issue.
Ng said Pakatan Harapan and DAP previously championed the cause while in the opposition, and must now act with accountability when in power.
Despite calling for DAP’s five ministers to resign, the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement clarified it did not ask the party to quit the government.
Instead, association chairperson Ng Yap Hwa suggested that other DAP leaders replace them, preferably those more committed to resolving the longstanding death in custody case.
“We’re calling for five ministers to step down - we’re not asking DAP to leave the government. If these five ministers have failed to deliver, they should make way for other DAP MPs who may be more effective in pushing for justice in Beng Hock’s case.
“For example, MPs like Chow Yu Hui (Raub), Tan Hong Pin (Bakri), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), and Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), who have previously raised this issue.
“Why not? Let them try. They might finally be the ones to resolve it,” Ng (above) told Malaysiakini on a Chinese-language podcast.
The episode, which also featured Beng Hock’s sister Lee Lan as a guest, was released tonight on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
On May 20, the police’s Criminal Investigation Department wrote to Ramkarpal, who is also the Teoh family’s lawyer, to inform him of the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ “no further action” (NFA) decision.
On May 25, Ng called on DAP’s five ministers to resign in protest over the NFA decision.
In the podcast, Ng pointed out that since DAP has often championed accountability and meritocracy, and if its current ministers have failed to deliver, they must step aside and let others take over.
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement chairperson Ng Yap Hwa (left) and Teoh Lee Lan, sister of custodial death victim Teoh Beng Hock
He further emphasised that the association welcomes anyone who wishes to “use” or “take advantage” of them.
“We welcome anyone to make use of us, because in any social movement, we must bring together all forces,” he said, responding to the allegation that they had been used by DAP and Pakatan Harapan previously.
Ng said their movement has always been open, welcoming the participation of all political parties and civil society in its events.
He added that besides DAP, political parties like Gerakan, Muda, PSM, and PRM have also joined their events.
He further emphasised that the association welcomes anyone who wishes to “use” or “take advantage” of them.
“We welcome anyone to make use of us, because in any social movement, we must bring together all forces,” he said, responding to the allegation that they had been used by DAP and Pakatan Harapan previously.
Ng said their movement has always been open, welcoming the participation of all political parties and civil society in its events.
He added that besides DAP, political parties like Gerakan, Muda, PSM, and PRM have also joined their events.
With power comes accountability
Ng noted that Harapan and DAP had once championed their cause when they were in opposition, and the movement had appreciated their past support.
However, now that the coalition is in power, he stressed that their role must change accordingly.
“Now that you are part of the establishment, you must act like it, and be held accountable. Back then, opposition figures like Lim Kit Siang used to say the opposition must keep the government in check and demand accountability.
“That’s part of democratic principles. Now that you are in power, you can’t say, ‘We helped you back then, why are you criticising us now?’
“This is not about returning favours - it’s about public accountability in a democratic system. With great power comes greater scrutiny,” he said.
Teoh Beng Hock
Ng said that since Harapan came into power in 2018 and 2022, the Teoh family and the association had attempted to resolve the matter through internal channels - requesting that the case be reclassified as murder or homicide - but were left disappointed time and again.
“We gave them seven years. In the beginning, we gave them the benefit of the doubt, since it was their first time in power. But in the end, they came to the same conclusion as the previous BN government - no criminal element, no further action.”
‘Once in power, everyone changed’
After Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister, Ng said they tried multiple times to meet him - even attempting to “search” for him during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election - but were ignored.
He said this eventually forced them to march to Parliament in July last year.
“An altercation broke out outside Parliament. Only then did Anwar finally agree to meet the Teoh family.
“To me, it seems he raised issues of justice and human rights merely to win votes, but once in power, everyone changed. Even securing a meeting became difficult, let alone convincing him to reopen the investigation.
“It seems everyone is just chasing power and failing to fulfil their responsibilities or promises. That’s why accountability is so important. It’s been seven years. In any normal job, a probation period only lasts three or four months - do we really need to give politicians this much time? If seven years isn’t enough, are we to wait 10 or 15?
Ng said that since Harapan came into power in 2018 and 2022, the Teoh family and the association had attempted to resolve the matter through internal channels - requesting that the case be reclassified as murder or homicide - but were left disappointed time and again.
“We gave them seven years. In the beginning, we gave them the benefit of the doubt, since it was their first time in power. But in the end, they came to the same conclusion as the previous BN government - no criminal element, no further action.”
‘Once in power, everyone changed’
After Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister, Ng said they tried multiple times to meet him - even attempting to “search” for him during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election - but were ignored.
He said this eventually forced them to march to Parliament in July last year.
“An altercation broke out outside Parliament. Only then did Anwar finally agree to meet the Teoh family.
“To me, it seems he raised issues of justice and human rights merely to win votes, but once in power, everyone changed. Even securing a meeting became difficult, let alone convincing him to reopen the investigation.
“It seems everyone is just chasing power and failing to fulfil their responsibilities or promises. That’s why accountability is so important. It’s been seven years. In any normal job, a probation period only lasts three or four months - do we really need to give politicians this much time? If seven years isn’t enough, are we to wait 10 or 15?
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meeting the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock, Aug 1, 2024
“If we truly believe in the principle that the people are the bosses, then in a democracy, the people have every right to say: ‘If you’re not doing your job, step down.’
“That’s why we’re calling for the resignation of DAP’s ministers - because they were the ones who once shouted the loudest,” he said.
In 2009, Beng Hock, an aide to then Selangor state executive councillor 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.
In an open letter issued this morning, Ng encouraged DAP ordinary members to “turn silence into strength” by urging the party to convene a special congress to address the issue.
“If we truly believe in the principle that the people are the bosses, then in a democracy, the people have every right to say: ‘If you’re not doing your job, step down.’
“That’s why we’re calling for the resignation of DAP’s ministers - because they were the ones who once shouted the loudest,” he said.
In 2009, Beng Hock, an aide to then Selangor state executive councillor 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.
In an open letter issued this morning, Ng encouraged DAP ordinary members to “turn silence into strength” by urging the party to convene a special congress to address the issue.
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