NGO: Azam's apology to Teoh family shows compassion
Rapera Movement founder Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos said the apology was an exemplary move by Azam.
"The apology tendered by Tan Sri Azam Baki to the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock and the additional compensation is a good initiative and compassionate move by the MACC.
"Though he doesn't have to do so legally, such a compassionate initiative ought to be followed by other government agencies where relevant," he said in a statement today.
Earlier, MACC announced that the commission was prepared to offer a goodwill contribution to the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock to support the welfare and educational needs of his child.
This follows findings from investigations into Teoh's death, which had spanned the past 16 years.
Azam acknowledged the outcomes of previous probes, including the Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2011, the Court of Appeal's ruling in 2014, and the most recent police investigation, which had been classified as "No Further Action" (NFA) by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The commission also acknowledged that, on May 12, 2015, the government had paid RM600,000 in compensation to Teoh's family, along with an additional RM60,000 in legal costs as a full and final settlement under Sections 7 and 8 of the Civil Law Act 1956.
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The Star
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- The Star
A grave breach of ethics
PETALING JAYA: It was a most disturbing experience for a woman who wanted to get an ambulance for her husband who had just collapsed. Madam Wong, as she wanted to be known, said she dialled 999 and the operator guided her through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while an ambulance was dispatched to her home in Kajang. As her 58-year-old husband lay on the floor, silent and breathless, her phone rang. Thinking it was the paramedics, she answered the call. 'I'm calling from the hospital,' came the polite voice of a man speaking in a Chinese dialect. ALSO READ: 'I'm an undertaker. Would you be interested in our funeral packages?' Wong was stunned. 'I was trying to save him,' she recalled. 'And someone was already trying to bury him.' She screamed into the phone: 'I don't want a hearse. I want an ambulance!' By the time paramedics arrived, it was too late. 'I'll never forget that call – not just because it came too soon, but because it showed how broken things have become,' she lamented. Wong's story is not an isolated case. In December last year, five hospital employees were accused in a Seremban Sessions Court of accepting payment of RM600 to RM2,250 from two mortuary service providers as a 'reward' for supplying information about the next of kin of the deceased. Businesses offering funeral services have often been linked to public hospitals' forensic department and mortuary support staff. A Health Ministry circular dated April 21 stressed that hospital staff are prohibited from receiving any gift, contribution, payment or inducement that could be considered a bribe in managing deceased patients. 'This includes providing information or personal details of the deceased to external parties or individuals involved in funeral management,' it added. An undertaker, who has been in the industry for three decades, claimed that hospital staff used to make 'good money' from their 'side business'. According to him, the rates offered to the hospital staff would differ between Indian and Chinese undertakers. 'Indian businesses would offer a lesser amount of perhaps RM250 to RM300. The Chinese undertakers would give at least RM600 for each 'notification',' he said. 'Chinese funeral packages are far more expensive. That's why they can afford to pay the hospital staff a higher rate.' The cost of paying the hospital staff for the 'deal' is subsequently transferred to the client when they are billed for the funeral services, he added. However, a funeral services company director, who declined to be named, pointed out that the situation had changed after the Covid-19 pandemic and that the 'lucrative side business' of these hospital staff had come to a halt. 'The way remains are managed has changed drastically,' he said. The undertaker also said most companies have now turned to digital and social media marketing. 'Today, 90% of our business comes from our digital marketing efforts. Only about 10% comes from referrals by hospital support staff,' he said. This was unlike previous times, when about 60% of their business came from hospital employees who gave the undertakers the name of the deceased and contact number of the next of kin, he said. Another source affirmed this, saying that the bargaining power has now shifted to the service providers. The undertakers spoken to concurred that public hospitals should adopt the practice of private hospitals, which place brochures of funeral service providers at selected areas in their premises. Yet, there also remain cases of 'freelancers' who would 'reward' hospital workers to get cases for big funeral services companies. 'These freelancers would hang around the mortuary. They are paid commissions by the big players,' another source claimed. A bereavement consultant claimed that some undertakers would offer commissions to hospital staff or intermediaries in exchange for securing clients. As someone who has been in the industry since 2019, he described it as a competitive business. To protect his clients, he would advise families never to hand over the deceased's identity card to anyone other than his verified service team. 'There have been cases where people pretended to be from a certain company but turned out to be just regular undertakers. That's when complications arise,' he said, adding that families are often caught off guard by how quickly some undertakers show up. 'They somehow even know the correct hospital ward number.'
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
MACC sorry over Beng Hock death, but still no accountability
YOURSAY | 'Ensuring that such incidents never happen again requires more than words and gestures.' Beng Hock's death: MACC apologises to family, offers contribution for son Robbie98: To start, you need to review the offence for which the late Teoh Beng Hock (an aide to then-Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah) was called to, the MACC offices that fateful day in 2009. It was over allegations that Ean Yong, then a Selangor exco member, had misused his allocations. A princely sum of a few thousand ringgit in a country where millions routinely go 'missing'. The keyword here is allocation, not stolen money. Teoh died in a secure building with limited access. The coroner and court initially said it was suicide, but this decision was overturned by the appeals court, which also sought to seek the truth with a verdict of death due to 'external' influence. How many people were in contact with him in a secure place at night was the obvious question. The answer we don't know forever tarnishes the credibility of MACC. An apology from MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki is certainly the right start after a long 16 years. We shall give you compensation, get on with your life, and nothing else can be achieved. Sir, this is the wrong answer. What the grieving, courageous family is looking for is justice for their loss, to know who killed Teoh, and for closure of this deplorable saga. This tragedy is a stain forever on the MACC and the political games our 'elites' play. EmEmKay: The formal apology from MACC is a historic development in a tragedy that has haunted Malaysia's conscience for years. However, for Teoh's family - and for many Malaysians - the path to justice is incomplete without decisive action to hold individuals accountable for acts committed under the commission's watch. Ensuring that such incidents never happen again requires more than words and gestures; it demands transparency, reform, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. Amadeus: Azam, a mere apology will not bring Teoh back. The murderers should be held accountable for their actions. This isn't a matter of turning the other cheek when being slapped; this was someone's son, brother, husband, and father. Shouldn't the murderers be accountable for their actions? Attorney-General Dusuki Mokthar, what if this happened to your kin? Would you say no further action (NFA)? As for the compensation offered, is that from the murderers or the people's money? MarioT: An apology without taking any action against those responsible for Teoh's death only brings more trauma and pain to the family. Sixteen years of waiting for justice turned out to be a fiasco. The MACC chief commissioner should, in all honesty, ask himself whether he has truly carried out his duties in a fair and just manner by avoiding taking action against those responsible. Would he treat the case in the same manner if it had happened to one of his family members? Coward: Don't take the money. It's not atonement on their party. They just want to pay to shoo you away. Moreover, it is not atonement that you want or need. If you accept the money, then the perception is that you settle the matter with MACC. Your lawyers will tell you that this will have a big impact on any legal pursuit and redress later. TC: Can MACC or the police call up all the MACC officers in court to hear their versions, and let the public see them, their names, and their current positions? It does not mean they are guilty, but why hide themselves if they are not guilty? Will they dare to appear in public? Why are they mysterious, faceless, and nameless? Ringgit: Death in custody, and you just offer your deepest sympathies and extend an apology? Malaysians want justice for Teoh. According to the country's rule of law, no one should be allowed to die in your custody with any form of cover-up or hiding of information. Please instruct your team at MACC to provide the utmost cooperation to the police, arrest the culprit and charge them in court. You are no judge, so do not conclude on behalf of the public. Please do your part! Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may appreciate your work, but most Malaysians don't share his view. Quigonbond: MACC is so tone-deaf. The family have already succeeded in a civil case against MACC. It's hilarious to try to bribe them with a goodwill contribution, which is not even a proper function of MACC. The only thing missing here is criminal accountability. Sun n Moon: Still no closure after 16 years for the family. On a bigger scale, why so much focus and attention all these years just on this case and family? What happens to other unexplained death cases in the custody of other families who have suffered the same fate and agony, but not much attention and investigation is given? BrownMacaw9225: This unfortunate episode has tarnished MACC's reputation. Let us all pray that all the affected parties be magnanimous about the matter and move on. Let it be a lesson to all government agencies that the life of any Malaysian matters and not to abuse their power or authority. May God guide us daily. Blue Lights: This apology has long been overdue in Teoh's case; we can finally see the family getting some closure. The tragedy needs this magnanimous public contrition. Sighhhhhhh: Where does the buck stop? All those who were involved, even those who were not there in person, especially if they are in charge, must take some responsibility. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
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