KUALA LUMPUR – DAP has called on Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to explain why he believes there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute anyone over the death of Teoh Beng Hock, describing the decision as “deeply unsatisfactory” given previous court findings.
In a joint statement today, DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Anthony Loke said the AG must account for his decision to classify the case as “no further action” (NFA), despite judicial conclusions pointing to foul play.
“The attorney-general needs to explain in detail why it is he thinks there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for criminal offences involving the death of Teoh Beng Hock,” Gobind and Loke said.
The AG classified the case as NFA on May 21 after reviewing investigation papers submitted by the police. A letter dated May 30 was later sent to the family's lawyers, stating lack of evidence as the basis for the decision.
DAP expressed frustration over the move, highlighting its long-standing push for accountability since Teoh’s death in 2009.
Teoh died on July 16, that year, after falling from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after being questioned by officers at the Selangor MACC headquarters.
In the statement, the party highlighted that had assembled a legal team and pressed for an inquest into the death – which later revealed there was bruising on Teoh’s neck. Although the Coroner’s Court returned an open verdict in 2011, that decision was later set aside by the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court then found that Teoh’s death was caused by “an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation of the deceased.”
DAP also supported a civil suit filed by Teoh’s family, which resulted in the government and the MACC admitting liability for negligence. The court awarded the family RM600,000 in damages and RM60,000 in costs.
“The findings of the Court of Appeal and the civil court provided basis for the police to conduct further investigations into the search for the perpetrators behind Teoh Beng Hock’s death,” DAP said.
While investigations fall under police jurisdiction, the party stressed that the discretion to prosecute rests solely with the AG.
“He must explain why he is unable to do so in this case, particularly in light of the decisions of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings in the high court,” the statement said.
DAP also revealed that Teoh’s family is considering a judicial review to challenge the AG’s NFA classification – a move the party fully supports.
Gobind and Loke, speaking on behalf of the DAP Central Executive Committee, urged the AG to reconsider his decision and “push ahead with charges against those responsible” without further delay. – June 8, 2025
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