Remembering Sdr Teoh Beng Hock
A lot of people I know are upset and angered by the death of Sdr Teoh Beng Hock. I will not speculate at this point but would just like to point out that as long as he remained within the custody (and I’m using the term very loosely here) of the MACC, his safety and wellbeing was the responsibility of the MACC. No amount of spinning can change that fact. What probably upsets me even more is the attempts of some to spin this tragedy with a racist angle.
While it may have very well been an accident, it is precisely because such accidents have been allowed to occur in the past without any punitive action taken against those responsible that complacency and pure recklessness has set in as part of the operating culture of our enforcement agencies. While I wouldn’t go as far as accusing these agencies of malice aforethought but I would definitely not disagree that such incompetence and callousness with human lives seem to be actively tolerated, even if not officially encouraged and condoned, within the agencies.
I for one cannot recall a single incident where anyone has been held responsible, prosecuted and convicted for causing a death in custody over the last 10 years. What has been prevalent however has been denials, cover-ups and intimidations. No wonder such incidents continue to happen with impunity!
I echo Sdr. Goh Keat Peng’s thoughts that one cannot stand silent and be neutral in the face of such injustice and public immorality. May we all stand up today and be counted as those who will SAY NO to such callousness.
No more Francis Udayappans, no more A. Kugans, no more Teoh Beng Hocks!
For those of you who want to pay their last respects to Teoh Beng Hock, a memorial wake will be held for him at the Dewan Serbaguna Sri Kembangan tonight at 8.30pm.
His funeral will be held at the Teo residence in Alor Gajah, Melaka on Monday morning:
Date
Monday, 20 July 2009
Time
11.00am
Venue
Teo Residence
No.7648, Taman Seri Kelemak
78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka
Telephone
06.556.4266
For those who want to make a more vocal stand, a rally will be held this Sunday:
JUSTICE FOR TEOH BENG HOCK RALLY
Date
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Time
4.30 pm
Venue
Stadium MBPJ Kelana Jaya
Jalan SS7/15
Petaling Jaya
Folks are encouraged to wear black and bring white flowers for this event.
