Teoh family returns bow, emphasises 'truth over money'
Cha Zhi Ting
Published: Jul 20, 2025 1:26 PM
Updated: 3:26 PM
Teoh Beng Hock’s parents, sister, and members of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement solemnly bowed during a memorial service at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night, marking the 16th anniversary of the former DAP political aide’s death.
“Not to reciprocate is against etiquette,” declared the emcee, referring to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and three other party leaders who had bowed in “respect and sorrow” to the family during a press conference on July 17.
“The Teoh family and the Teoh Beng Hock Association wish to return this bow. We also bow to all the political parties, groups, and members of the public who have supported our struggle over the years. Thank you for standing with us.
“We hope that in this final stretch, all progressive parties, groups, and the people will walk with us,” the emcee added.
The memorial drew a crowd of around 250, filling the venue to capacity with others listening from outside.
Among those present were Senator and Selangor DAP organising secretary Tiew Way Keng, former Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu, and PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan.
Following the event, Liu - who had previously warned that DAP risked losing public support over its handling of the case - presented the family with a calligraphy scroll inscribed: “Justice hasn't been delivered.”
‘I heard your apology’
Emotions ran high as Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan, responded sharply to DAP’s recent suggestion that the family consider accepting compensation from the government.
“How could such a proposal be made when we’re already suffering online abuse and being smeared as ‘money-grabbing’?” she asked, her voice filled with anguish.
She revealed that she frequently breaks down at home, emotionally overwhelmed by relentless cyberbullying.
“I never thought that one day, someone who once stood on stage saying, ‘If I were the MACC chief, I would definitely catch the killer’, would end up using the compensation issue to hurt us instead,” she said, referring to a former DAP member she did not name.
Teoh Beng Hock’s sister Teoh Lee Lan
“I want to tell the DAP leaders that I heard your apology; you also know that for 16 years, what we have asked for is the truth, not money.
“I have already told DAP that many netizens accuse us of being greedy for money. I don’t understand: since I’ve expressed all this, why does DAP still want us to accept compensation?” she said.
Lee Lan also reminded the crowd that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had promised to provide the family with the full investigation report once the inquiries concluded.
She added that if the government believes the investigation is over, it should release the full report.
In a rare public statement, Teoh’s 72-year-old mother, Teng Shuw Hor, also addressed the gathering, briefly but powerfully: “I hope DAP can give us the truth.”
“I want to tell the DAP leaders that I heard your apology; you also know that for 16 years, what we have asked for is the truth, not money.
“I have already told DAP that many netizens accuse us of being greedy for money. I don’t understand: since I’ve expressed all this, why does DAP still want us to accept compensation?” she said.
Lee Lan also reminded the crowd that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had promised to provide the family with the full investigation report once the inquiries concluded.
She added that if the government believes the investigation is over, it should release the full report.
In a rare public statement, Teoh’s 72-year-old mother, Teng Shuw Hor, also addressed the gathering, briefly but powerfully: “I hope DAP can give us the truth.”
***
kt comments:
Hallmark of a courteous etiquette befitting a properly educated person ['educated' here means 'having learned manners from one's parents', and thus not shaming the parents].
No comments:
Post a Comment