Can Human Rights Tribunal Revisit Deaths Like Beng Hock Adib Mps Ask

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PARLIAMENT | Lawmakers across the divide have pressed Putrajaya to clarify whether high-profile deaths involving public institutions and systemic accountability gaps could be probed by a proposed tribunal to deal specifically with human rights issues and violations.
In particular, Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) questioned whether the tribunal would be able to investigate the tragic 2009 death of Teoh Beng Hock, who was found dead after overnight questioning at the Selangor MACC headquarters.
“Cases of human rights violations normally (feature) criminal wrongdoings, like in Teoh’s case, which has since been classified as ‘no further action’.
“If a human rights tribunal is established, would his family be able to appeal for the case to be heard?” Kok asked in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She also queried whether the government can guarantee that the recommendations put forth by Suhakam, aimed at improving systemic deficiencies, will be implemented under the tribunal.
Deputy Minister in the PM’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M KulasegaranIn response, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran affirmed that the matter of the tribunal implementing Suhakam’s proposals and findings is being looked into from a feasibility and legal aspect.
While Kulasegaran (Harapan-Ipoh Barat) agreed with Kok’s call for the tribunal to investigate Teoh’s death, he noted that it is “too early” to issue a final confirmation on the matter as the framework, basis and parameters of the tribunal have yet to be determined.
Syariah perspective
In an additional question, Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) also raised Teoh’s case, as well as the deaths of firefighter Adib Kassim and Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Querying how a decision by a tribunal probing such cases would differ from an inquest finding, the opposition lawmaker also sought the government’s guarantee that the tribunal would not contravene Islamic principles and its standing as the official religion in the nation.
In addressing the questions, Kulasegaran assured that the Human Rights Tribunal Feasibility Study Committee, formed earlier in June, will also take into account views from the syariah perspective.
Tumpat MP Mumtaz Md Nawi“If a tribunal had been formed prior to this, I believe that investigations would have already been carried out,” he added, believed to be referring to the cases cited by Mumtaz.
ADSEarlier, Kulasegaran told the Dewan Rakyat that a feasibility study on setting up a human rights tribunal has commenced and is expected to be completed by October 2025.
High-profile deaths
In 2009, Teoh, who was then-Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah’s aide, was found dead at the Selangor MACC, which was then headquartered at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.
A 2011 royal commission of inquiry ruled that he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation.
However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts, including those of MACC officers.
On Nov 21 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the police to complete the investigation into Teoh’s death within six months. In May this year, the AGC ultimately classified the case as no further action.
Deceased firefighter Adib KassimAdib, on the other hand, died from injuries sustained during riots near the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor, in November 2018.
On Sept 27, 2019, the coroner’s court ruled that Adib’s death was due to a criminal act perpetrated by more than two unidentified individuals.
A special committee formed to probe his death had submitted its final report to the government in August 2022.
Zara, who was a Form One student in Papar, Sabah, reportedly died after she was believed to have fallen from the third floor of a dormitory building in the early morning of July 17.
While her family has raised doubts on the circumstances of her death and the authorities’ alleged attempts to silence the case, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has assured that the ministry will take appropriate action based on the police’s investigation into the student’s death. - Mkini

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