Lee Lan and Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA) chairperson Ng Yap Hwa were under probe for allegedly breaching the Election Offences Act when raising their cause during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign trail. 

They had done so by distributing flyers on their “Search for missing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim”, hoping to secure a meeting with the premier while on the campaign trail to discuss the Beng Hock case. Ramkarpal said it is unreasonable to probe them for allegedly promoting ill will among the voters or a breach of peace simply by hosting a peaceful demonstration.

“All elections will inevitably involve canvassing, which is bound to be unfavourable to a party contesting and the authorities should understand that this is a part of the campaigning process. “If the authorities were to clamp down on those who are critical of a candidate or the party that candidate represents during an election, there would be many who would be arrested for supposedly breaching the peace as the whole point of the campaign process is to be critical of the parties contesting in order to enable voters to make an informed choice!” he said in a statement.

He added that Lee Lan and Ng were exercising their freedom of speech and expression about the case which has dragged on for many years. “I am unable to see how Ng and Lee Lan intended to breach the peace and the authorities ought to cease investigating them to avoid a perception of intolerance of genuine freedom of speech and expression,” he said.

Ramkarpal had represented the family in their bid for a judicial review against police over investigations into the young political aide’s mysterious death in 2009. His brother and now digital minister, Gobind Singh, represented the family in the inquest into Beng Hock’s death and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Beng Hock was the aide to DAP assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah and was interrogated by the MACC over an alleged discrepancy in the spending of RM2,400 for flags for National Day celebrations.

Going through cops to meet PM?

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, TBH-ADA said police action on the matter was reminiscent of the late-night interrogation endured by Beng Hock before he was found dead at the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam. This is because Ng and Lee Lan were summoned for questioning by police at night and were only released at 12.30am this morning.

“It is regrettable that the self-proclaimed Malaysia Madani Anwar government treated Ng and Lee Lan as heinous criminals and conducted overnight interrogations. “Furthermore, Prime Minister Anwar, as the head of government and a representative of the people, should understand that it is a normal practice in a democratic nation for people to seek the prime minister to address their concerns,” it said.

TBH-ADA stressed that the “Search for Missing Prime Minister” campaign neither involved any political party nor did it call on Kuala Kubu Baharu voters to support any candidate. “If meeting Anwar requires us to go to the police station for questioning, then we will go to the police station. “If going to court to be charged is necessary to meet Anwar, then we are also prepared to go to court,” Lee Lan added.

Spratyls888 : Shame on DAP, only after TBH family investigated by police only step in! Hello why so difficult to secure a meeting at PMO for TBH family to meet PMX? PMX too busy with Gaza is it? A bunch of shameless DAP neglecting TBH death for years!

KARMA await DAP, Heaven is watching may DAP face Heaven wrath starting from KKB! Rakyat will continue to stand & fight for TBH justice unlike DAP heartless human being after assuming power! Time to abandon chauvinist DAP start from KKB! Shame on DAP….what a disgrace!

BlackPigeon0028 : It's been so very long, please do the needful n help LeeLan n family. If TBH was yr brother or family, wud u not fight n defend him until justice is meted out.

How can this MACC guy be promoted? Its like he has nothing to fo with TBH when he is the cause!!! What kind of MACC is this? Who will respect you????

apanama is back : Ramkarpal, you and Gobind need to do something to ensure Lee Lan can meet PM Anwar. Both of you can do it. Issuing this statement in defence of her and the team is one thing but you need to go one step further to ensure their wish to meet PM Anwar materialise.

There is no point in explaining to the public the logic behind what will happen during the campaign process. The family needs closure for the injustices towards Beng Hock. It has been 15 years and I will say the past and present administrations are deliberately playing "buat bodoh." The person had been even promoted and it is an open secret.

As their ex-lawyers, both of you should be fighting to ensure Beng Hock's family has closure in this matter. How long do they need to wait? Another 15 years? When DAP is going to close Beng Hock’s matter once and for all? You people cannot be dragging your own feet when your aide is involved.