KUALA LUMPUR: The government will seek an explanation from the relevant authorities over the lack of prosecution in the death of Teoh Beng Hock despite earlier findings pointing to possible criminal elements, says M. Kulasegaran.
While acknowledging that the Attorney General’s Chambers had previously classified the case as requiring no further action (NFA), the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) had recommended that investigations continue and charges be brought where appropriate.
“Yes, the AGC decided on an NFA previously, but Suhakam has requested that investigations be carried out and that charges be brought.
“Those are Suhakam’s recommendations, as Suhakam itself did not investigate the matter,” he said while winding up the debate on Suhakam’s 2024 annual report and financial statements in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 8).
“I promise I will obtain an answer from them and give it to you. I knew Beng Hock myself, and this is something that deserves a conclusive answer.
“We cannot avoid this issue because it has only embarrassed our country after being brought before the Human Rights Council. I promise I will get an answer, and after that we will see what we can do,” he added.
Kulasegaran said the case was not new and that the authorities had long been aware of allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
“There were criminal elements, but it appears that no final decision has been made by the AGC or the MACC.
“What Suhakam can say at this stage is that it has made recommendations, and it will continue to follow up on the matter.
“That is all we can do. We cannot compel them. Perhaps other processes could be considered, such as compelling the agency to prosecute,” he said.
Earlier, Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) questioned why the case had been closed with no further action despite findings by the Court of Appeal of Malaysia that pointed to possible criminal elements.
Teoh, a political aide to a Selangor executive councillor, was found dead on July 16, 2009, after being questioned overnight at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Shah Alam as part of a corruption probe.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal of Malaysia overturned an open verdict returned by a Coroner’s Court and ruled, on the balance of probabilities, that his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts of unknown persons, ordering further police investigations.
In May 2025, the AGC classified the case as requiring no further action, saying there was insufficient evidence to identify or prosecute any individual despite the completed police investigation.
