By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 19: The Democratic Action Party (DAP) must be held accountable in the case of Teoh Beng Hock, the political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, who was found dead on July 16, 2009, while in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) custody.
In a statement, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s (SUPP) Wilfred Yap, who is also the assemblyman for Kota Sentosa, was referring to the recent public apology by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke to the family of the late Teoh.
“While the apology may appear heartfelt, it raises a far more serious and unavoidable question: What has DAP done to deliver the justice they so loudly promised when they were in the opposition?
“Now that they are part of the federal government and hold positions of real power, an apology alone is meaningless without action. Justice demands results, not rhetoric,” Yap said.
Yap then called on Sarawakians not to forget how DAP leaders brought up Teoh Beng Hock during their campaigns, which he claimed was not solely to demand justice but also to gain an electoral advantage.
He further claimed that for over a decade, the slogan ‘Justice for Beng Hock’ had been a rallying cry. Still, after holding Cabinet portfolios and key roles in the government, the DAP had not delivered on the justice promised.
“If DAP cannot even fight for justice for their own political aide, what confidence can the rakyat have that they will fight for the rights of ordinary Malaysians?” Yap questioned.
Following that, he said DAP must be held accountable and called on the party to:
- Explain what concrete steps have been taken since they joined the federal government to reopen or re-examine the case of Teoh Beng Hock.
- Disclose what institutional reforms, if any, have been implemented to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, particularly within MACC and related agencies.
- Stop using apologies as a shield from accountability.
“Let us be clear: Justice cannot be a tool to win votes and then be discarded once power is secured. DAP must live up to their own words or admit they were never serious to begin with.
“The people of Sarawak have not forgotten. And we will not let them forget,” he said.
As reported by Free Malaysia Today, Loke apologised on behalf of the party after treasurer Ngeh Koo Ham accused Teoh’s sister of being ungrateful despite the party’s continued support.
He also said Ngeh’s comments did not reflect DAP’s position and acknowledged that the party owes a moral debt to the family. — DayakDaily
