Beng Hock’s son is already 10 years old and starting to ask about his father.
Three families whose loved ones were abducted or killed are still waiting for justice in 2020, nearly two years after Pakatan Harapan (PH) swept into power on a raft of promises, including to restore justice and the rule of law in the land.
Gathered together at a forum in Kuala Lumpur last night, the families shared their frustrations at how they have been denied closure over the fate of their loved ones.
The wife of pastor Koh, Susanna Liew expressed her dismay that there had been no developments into her husband’s abduction, as well that of Amri Che Mat.
“How long more do we have to wait?” she asked.
“We are frozen in grief due to the lack of information on his whereabouts, his current condition.
“Someone related to a victim of enforced disappearance once said, ‘Because we didn’t have a funeral, every day is a funeral’,” Liew said.
Liew said the family had brought their plight to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Home Minister Muhiyiddin Yassin but to no avail.
A Suhakam report into Koh and Amri’s cases concluded that the Special Branch was involved in their “enforced disappearances”.
A task force was subsequently established and was supposed to deliver its findings last year.
“The Suhakam report is out. So, why is it so hard to find the culprits?
“Where is their (PH’s) political will?”
Teoh Lee Lan, sister of Beng Hock, said the family were suffering.
“Since PH took power, we have been waiting for them to do something,” she said.
She was confident that even after a decade, evidence can still be found in Beng Hock’s case, particularly from witnesses.
“Those MACC officers who were eyewitnesses, please come forward and record a real statement to any police or politician you are comfortable with.
“It’s time for you to come forward and tell us the truth. Not just to help Beng Hock but so that you can have a good night’s sleep for the rest of your life,” she said.
PH in its election manifesto, had pledged to reopen the investigation into Beng Hock’s death.
In June 2018, the new Harapan government agreed to re-open the case.
Police last year began questioning MACC officers in a renewed probe.
Lee Lan said the family hoped to get answers for his wife and child before Teoh’s memorial on July 16.
“His son is already 10 years old and starting to ask about his father. We hope to get some answers.”
Also speaking at the forum last night was Francis Mancha, the brother of Bill Kayong – a PKR activist who was gunned down in Miri in 2016.
Francis said the family was disappointed with how the court proceedings into the murder went, as the prosecution only reportedly called in 28 out of 40 witnesses.
This he said, meant that key witnesses did not testify, and allowed for the alleged mastermind behind the murder to escape justice.
As such, he said the family are planning to launch a civil suit over the murder.
“We want the case to be re-opened, we are not satisfied with the outcome,” he said.
In Aug 2018, the High Court in Miri sentenced Mohd Fitri Pauz to death over Bill’s murder.
In 2017, the court had acquitted and released three people, including businessperson Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, from charges of abetting the murder.
Meanwhile, one other unsolved death that was highlighted last night was that of Customs officer Anisah Ali in 2016.
Anisah was killed when a smuggler’s van rammed the vehicle she was in from behind, causing it to skid and crash into a roadside tree.
There was one reported arrest, but no charges have been brought to court.
Her son, Afiq Luqman Mohd Baharudin, who was in the audience last night, said he also hoped that his late mother would get the justice she deserved.