Andrew Sia
Published: Jul 19, 2025 2:01 PM
Updated: 4:03 PM
COMMENT | Should DAP threaten the “nuclear option”? To leave the Madani government unless the real culprits of Teoh Beng Hock’s death are revealed?
This is one major angry demand against DAP after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) declared in May that police did not find “sufficient evidence” to prove any wrongdoing.
I admit it’s emotionally satisfying to overturn the table at Putrajaya and storm the hell out.
Unfortunately, life is not a movie. We have to ask, what happens after? Will Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim then bring in PAS or Bersatu to bolster his support?
Will we then move into a totally Malay-dominated government that slides inexorably towards an Islamic state?
After all, Mr Madani seems more interested in holding on to power rather than real reforms. And then passing on the reins to his daughter.
In fact, Anwar had admitted in October 2023 that he had invited PAS to join his government when it was formed.
Many unsolved cases
If DAP leaves Putrajaya, will the real killers of Teoh then face justice? That may be a bit too optimistic.
Published: Jul 19, 2025 2:01 PM
Updated: 4:03 PM
COMMENT | Should DAP threaten the “nuclear option”? To leave the Madani government unless the real culprits of Teoh Beng Hock’s death are revealed?
This is one major angry demand against DAP after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) declared in May that police did not find “sufficient evidence” to prove any wrongdoing.
I admit it’s emotionally satisfying to overturn the table at Putrajaya and storm the hell out.
Unfortunately, life is not a movie. We have to ask, what happens after? Will Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim then bring in PAS or Bersatu to bolster his support?
Will we then move into a totally Malay-dominated government that slides inexorably towards an Islamic state?
After all, Mr Madani seems more interested in holding on to power rather than real reforms. And then passing on the reins to his daughter.
In fact, Anwar had admitted in October 2023 that he had invited PAS to join his government when it was formed.
Many unsolved cases
If DAP leaves Putrajaya, will the real killers of Teoh then face justice? That may be a bit too optimistic.
What happened to Teoh is a tragedy. The night of his death in 2009, two colleagues and I went over to Plaza Masalam at Shah Alam for a silent protest.
A 2011 royal commission of inquiry (RCI) ruled he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation. In 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused by unlawful acts, including by MACC officers.
So the AGC finding of “no further action” stinks of a cover-up that has enraged many.
Many other prominent cases remain unsolved, including the alleged abductions of Pamela Ling, Pastor Raymond Koh and Shia activist Amri Che Mat.
And of course, we still haven’t caught the real masterminds who ordered the Mongolian murder.
Dilemma Action Party
If DAP does walk out, I am willing to bet that many will then curse them for "betraying” the voters’ mandate and “abandoning” their supporters.
In short, the online crowd will always find fault, whether the party remains in or out of Putrajaya.
DAP is really a Dilemma Action Party caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The root problem is that the party lacks the power to change The System of entrenched vested interests - also known as the Malay Deep State.
To keyboard warriors pouring hellfire on Teoh’s case and DAP now, may I ask, how many spoke up when 70 people died in police custody between 2021 and 2022?
They died mostly unknown and forgotten. In addition, Tenaganita revealed that 150 people died in 2022 while locked up by the Immigration Department.
People have every right to be angry at the dashed promises of reform under the Madani government. But who holds real power in Putrajaya?
After decades of corruption and racial ideology, it’s hard to shake the Deep State.
Three-headed monster
Take what happened when Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing did a spot check at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in June 2023 after receiving complaints of immigration officers allegedly extorting Chinese visitors.
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh then accused him of abusing his power and “interfering” with immigration officials. Akmal was also reported to demand that Tiong be stripped of his citizenship.
I salute Tiong for his brave actions, but what was the result? The MACC pinned the blame for the extortion on a mysterious external “agent”. No immigration officer was caught.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing
The MACC added that Tiong should have engaged the agency first so that they could “hatch a plan” to nab the agent, who had since become “hard to catch”.
In other words, MACC declared MACC – “Mana Ada Corruption Case”.
After decades of racial privileges and an entrenched sense of entitlement, the Deep State has become ultra-powerful.
Nazir Abdul Razak, the better and smarter brother of Najib, lamented in October 2022 that a three-headed monster plagues Malaysia.
These are racial politics, over-centralisation of power and corruption that has become like “stage four cancer”.
The MACC added that Tiong should have engaged the agency first so that they could “hatch a plan” to nab the agent, who had since become “hard to catch”.
In other words, MACC declared MACC – “Mana Ada Corruption Case”.
After decades of racial privileges and an entrenched sense of entitlement, the Deep State has become ultra-powerful.
Nazir Abdul Razak, the better and smarter brother of Najib, lamented in October 2022 that a three-headed monster plagues Malaysia.
These are racial politics, over-centralisation of power and corruption that has become like “stage four cancer”.
Reclaim Karpal’s legacy
Democracy watchdog Bersih has rightly slammed MACC’s public apology and offer of compensation for Teoh’s death as a whitewash of criminal responsibility.
Even though the RCI and courts have found wrongdoing, the police claimed that “several witnesses were unable to be interviewed while others refused to come forward”.
DAP leaders bowing down to Teoh’s family and urging them to consider taking MACC’s goodwill payment may have been the “best deal” they could negotiate with The System.
DAP leaders bowing in a plea to Teoh Beng Hock’s family to accept MACC’s apology and goodwill contribution
But it looked like a public relations stunt that had badly backfired. DAP must do better.
The strategy of appeasement and compromise is not working. People voted for reforms.
Perhaps going nuclear and taking a “Last stand of the Alamo” over Teoh’s case is too dramatic.
Instead of leaving Putrajaya, DAP can consider becoming the Akmal or Wee Ka Siong of Madani – fighting a guerrilla battle as an “opposition from the inside”.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has to calculate if Anwar is willing to bet on sacrificing non-Malay votes. The party still has enough leverage to call out his cards at the table. Who has “the numbers”?
DAP should reclaim its old dignity by launching more verbal attack drones and yes, “rockets” at the sick system. Or risk losing support in the next election.
After all, if Akmal and Tiong can be so outspoken, maybe it’s time for DAP to step up and at least partially reclaim the mantle of Karpal Singh.
But it looked like a public relations stunt that had badly backfired. DAP must do better.
The strategy of appeasement and compromise is not working. People voted for reforms.
Perhaps going nuclear and taking a “Last stand of the Alamo” over Teoh’s case is too dramatic.
Instead of leaving Putrajaya, DAP can consider becoming the Akmal or Wee Ka Siong of Madani – fighting a guerrilla battle as an “opposition from the inside”.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has to calculate if Anwar is willing to bet on sacrificing non-Malay votes. The party still has enough leverage to call out his cards at the table. Who has “the numbers”?
DAP should reclaim its old dignity by launching more verbal attack drones and yes, “rockets” at the sick system. Or risk losing support in the next election.
After all, if Akmal and Tiong can be so outspoken, maybe it’s time for DAP to step up and at least partially reclaim the mantle of Karpal Singh.
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com
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