The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement strongly condemns the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for using unnecessary violence to arrest businessman Albert Tei, who exposed corruption allegedly involving the prime minister’s political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
This act violates the fundamental human rights due to a person under detention.
Albert Tei had already agreed to give his statement to the MACC on 1 December.
However, on the morning of 28 November, MACC officials forcibly broke into Tei’s home in Puchong, Selangor, and arrested him in a violent manner.
According to Tei’s wife Lee Pei Rie, even though Tei was fully cooperative during the arrest, masked MACC officers still pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
MACC officials [allegedly] even pointed a gun at Tei and at Lee, who was recording the incident, and subsequently forced her to delete the videos from her and her children’s mobile phones. [Editor’s note: The MACC has denied this and other allegations related to the arrest, but Lee is demanding the release of CCTV footage.]
The MACC officials did not have any identification badges on them, and the vehicle used to take Tei away had no licence plates.
When questioned by Tei’s lawyer, the MACC officials also refused to disclose where Tei was being taken.
This procedure, which [allegedly] resembles the kidnapping of an innocent citizen by a gangster organisation, has left Tei’s family unaware of his whereabouts.
Such a complete lack of transparency and accountability from an enforcement agency under “Malaysia Madani” (civil and compassionate Malaysia) is a great irony!
The MACC’s arbitrary and abusive methods recall the tragedy of 16 years ago, when MACC officers repeatedly visited the office of Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, forcibly took Teoh Beng Hock away, which subsequently led him to his death.
What is the difference between the MACC’s [allegedly] gangster-like operating procedures and the abduction of Pamela Ling outside the MACC office?
The MACC officers involved in the abuse of power must be severely punished. MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki must apologise to Tei and his family for the violent enforcement.
We also urge Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to implement sweeping reforms within the MACC, to guarantee the fundamental human rights of detainees and to pursue accountability for all deaths linked to the MACC.
Without punishment and accountability, every person could become the MACC’s next victim. – TBH-ADA
Ng Yap Hwa is the chairperson of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement.
Editor’s note: The MACC has denied misconduct in the arrest of Albert Tei, including allegations that officers pointed a gun at Tei. See this report by the Edge: MACC denies misconduct in arrest of Albert Tei, files police report
The commission stated that a police report was filed to investigate what it called false claims and to stop the spread of inaccurate information. It stressed that the arrest was conducted “according to procedures”.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
