Call for the resignation of five DAP Ministers in protest against the Teoh Beng Hock Case Investigation Results
[Press Statement by Teoh Beng Hock Democracy Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA), published in Kuala Lumpur on 25 May 2025]
The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement expresses extreme disappointment over the collective silence of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) leadership regarding the investigation results of Teoh Beng Hock’s case. In 2009, when Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death occurred, DAP leaders and activists condemned the Barisan Nasional government for causing his death, organizing memorials nationwide in his honour. The current Minister of Transport and DAP Secretary-General, Loke Siew Fook, was then the chief of DAP Socialist Youth, responsible for coordinating nationwide memorial events for Teoh Beng Hock.
For more than a decade, DAP has relentlessly criticized the inconclusive ruling of the coroner’s court, the inefficiency of police investigations, the claim by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lawyers that Teoh strangled himself, and the Royal Commission’s conclusion that Teoh was forced into suicide. During election talks, public memorials, and press conferences, DAP consistently pledged that once in power at the federal level, they would deliver justice for Teoh Beng Hock. Senior DAP leaders such as Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Gobind Singh Deo, and Teo Nie Ching had previously called for justice in Teoh’s case, yet none have spoken out now.
In the past, DAP continuously criticized the Barisan Nasional government for corruption, inefficiency, and non-transparency, stressing the importance of integrity and transparency principles. Upon taking power in Penang, DAP even introduced the slogan “Competency, Accountability, and Transparency (CAT).” We urge DAP to break its silence and uphold the accountability and transparency principles it has championed for years by publicly explaining its political stance on the investigation results of Teoh Beng Hock’s case to his family.
Cabinet ministers might cite the Westminster cabinet principle of collective responsibility, stating that cabinet members should not publicly question government policies. However, the five DAP ministers must also understand that collective responsibility means they are equally accountable for the police department’s conclusion of “no further action” and the Attorney General’s ruling of “insufficient evidence for prosecution.” As one of the largest parties in Parliament, DAP must clarify whether they support the stance of the police and the Attorney General’s Office.
The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement believes that DAP leaders should not hide behind the excuse of cabinet collective responsibility without taking action. Politics is the art of possibility, and DAP can leverage its strength as the largest party in the ruling coalition to push for criminal enforcement agencies to uncover the truth and bring justice to Teoh Beng Hock.
When cabinet ministers strongly oppose government policies, they can resign as a form of protest. Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Legal Affairs, Zaid Ibrahim, once resigned in 2008 to protest the Abdullah administration’s use of the Internal Security Act to detain Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, and Sinchew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng. If a BN Minister could resign over the persecution against a DAP MP, there is no reason the current five DAP Ministers refuse to resign over the administration’s failure to uncover truth and justice for its member Teoh Beng Hock.
Therefore, we urge the five DAP cabinet ministers—Loke Siew Fook, Gobind Singh Deo, Nga Kor Ming, Sim Chee Keong, and Hannah Yeoh—to collectively resign from their ministerial positions in protest against the investigation results of Teoh Beng Hock’s case. They should take full political responsibility on behalf of DAP for failing to fulfill the party’s past promises regarding Teoh’s case. This would be the best demonstration of DAP’s commitment to accountability.
Ng Yap Hwa
Chairperson
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement
促行动党五部长总辞 抗议明福案调查结果
[赵明福民主促进会文告，2025年5月25日发表于吉隆坡]
对行动党高层领导对赵明福案件调查结果集体沉默，赵明福民主促进会感到极度失望。2009年赵明福命案发生时，行动党全党上下谴责国阵政府致死赵明福，风风火火在全国各地举办赵明福追思会。今日的交通部长兼行动党秘书长陆兆福，当年更是统筹全国赵明福追思会的行动党社青团团长。
十多年来，行动党严厉批判死因调查庭悬案判决、批判警察调查不力、批判反贪会律师指责明福掐颈自杀、批判皇委会的“明福被迫自杀”结论。行动党在各个选举讲座会上、公祭仪式上、记者会上，承诺一旦执政中央，将还赵明福一个公道。行动党元老林吉祥、顾问林冠英、全国主席哥宾星、副主席张念群，曾经都高呼为赵明福伸张正义，如今也未发只言片语。
过去，行动党无间断批评国阵政府的贪污、腐败、黑箱作业，强调廉正和透明原则的重要性，执政槟城后更制定了“能干、问责及透明(CAT)”口号。我们呼吁行动党莫再保持沉默，它应该贯彻它多年来秉持的问责及透明原则，向赵明福家属公开说明，行动党对赵明福案件的调查结果的政治立场。
行动党内阁部长会以西敏寺内阁制的集体负责精神为由，表示内阁成员不应该公开质疑政府政策。但是行动党五个部长也必须了解，集体负责表示他们也对警察部队的“无进一步行动”、总检察署的“不够证据提控”承担共同责任。作为国会内其中一个最大的党团，行动党须清楚阐明，他们是否支持警察和总检察署的立场。
赵明福民主促进会也认为，行动党领袖不应该躲在内阁集体负责制的背后而无所作为。政治是可能的艺术，行动党绝对可以利用其执政联盟最大党团的力量，要求刑事执法机关揪出凶手，还赵明福一个公道。
当内阁部长强烈不满政府政策，他们可辞职以明志。前首相署法律部长再益伊不拉欣就曾因为抗议阿都拉政府使用内安法令逮捕士布爹国会议员郭素沁、博主拉惹佩特拉和星洲日报记者陈云清而于2008年辞去内阁部长职位表示抗议。若国阵部长都能为行动党国会议员的被迫害辞职明志，行动党部长更没有理由在当今政府无法找出赵明福案件的真相和实现正义而拒绝辞职，毕竟赵明福也是行动党党员。
因此，我们呼吁行动党五个内阁部长 – 陆兆福、哥宾星、倪可敏、沈志强、杨巧双 – 集体辞去部长职位，向首相安华抗议赵明福案件的调查结果。他们应该对无法实现行动党过去对赵明福案所作出的承诺，代表行动党负上全部政治责任。这将是行动党问责精神的最好体现。
赵明福民主促进会主席
黄业华