Press Statement by the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement & KLSCAH Youth in Kuala Lumpur on 7 July 2026
Public Invited to Attend the 17th Anniversary Memorial for Teoh Beng Hock: “Never Forget Teoh Beng Hock, Never Turn Back the Clock!”
The 17th Anniversary Memorial for Teoh Beng Hock, themed “Never Forget Teoh Beng Hock, Never Turn Back the Clock!”, will be held on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Kong Choi Exhibition Hall, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH). The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement and KLSCAH Youth warmly invites members of the public to join us in commemorating this tragedy in Malaysia’s democratic journey.
Teoh Beng Hock was a political victim of Malaysia’s democratic transition, when forces from the old regime exploited state institutions to undermine the emerging new government.
Teoh Beng Hock’s death was not an isolated case of custodial death, nor was it merely an incident of law enforcement brutality. His death symbolizes the destruction of the principles of democracy and the rule of law. We therefore strongly condemn the old regime that was responsible for his death.
Regrettably, the new government that came into power has also refused to uncover the truth behind Teoh Beng Hock’s political death and to deliver justice, even though both his life and his death contributed to the birth of this new administration.
When the new government chose to collaborate with elites from the old establishment, conceal the old regime’s crimes of subverting democracy and carrying out political persecution, and vigorously defend indefensible acts of institutional violence, it constituted the greatest betrayal of the democratic movement and of Teoh Beng Hock’s family.
During the Johor state election, both the new and the old political camps refused to sign the pledge calling for justice for Teoh Beng Hock. This demonstrates that neither side has shown any genuine reflection on the Teoh Beng Hock case, nor any willingness to correct the wrongs or reform the institutions that undermined democracy and the rule of law.
When old and new political forces increasingly converge because of shared political interests, abandoning the democratic and human rights reform agenda that they once championed, participants in the democratic movement must not allow comradeship or political loyalty to excuse the abandonment of principles or the refusal to correct mistakes. We cannot simply tolerate political elites whose only remaining pursuit is power for its own sake.
Democracy must never move backwards. When the democratic movement reaches a critical juncture, its participants must cast aside irrational attachments and emotional entanglements, courageously adopt new strategies, forge new alliances, and advance towards the next milestone of substantive democracy.
The movement to seek justice for Teoh Beng Hock is no exception.
We sincerely invite everyone to bring your family and friends to this memorial gathering. The event will include a town hall meeting, where we hope to hear your views on the next phase of our movement. We will also launch the Online Teoh Beng Hock Memorial Museum and invite leaders from various political parties and organisations to deliver speeches expressing their solidarity and support.
Thank you.
Registration: https://forms.gle/28ogCrfNyBSVsRcE7
Yours sincerely,
Koong Hui Yein, Chairperson, Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement
Wong Yan Ke, KLSCAH Youth Chief
赵明福民主促进会与隆雪华青文告，2026年7月7日于吉隆坡发出
诚邀民众出席赵明福逝世17周年之“勿忘赵明福，不走回头路！”追思会
赵明福逝世17周年之“勿忘赵明福，不走回头路！”追思会将于2026年7月16日星期四傍晚7时正于隆雪华堂邝松厅举行，赵明福民主促进会与隆雪华青诚邀民众踊跃出席这一场纪念民主之殇的活动。
赵明福是国家民主转型期间，旧势力利用国家机器颠覆新政权，而产生的政治受难者。
赵明福不是孤立的扣留所死亡案件，赵明福案件不是单纯的执法暴力，赵明福之殁象征民主法治精神的毁坏。所以我们严厉批判导致赵明福死亡的旧政权。
遗憾的是，随之诞生的新政权却拒绝为赵明福政治命案掀开真相和实现正义，即使赵明福的生与死都已奉献给这个新政权的诞生。
当新政权选择与旧体制精英合作，掩盖旧政权犯下的颠覆民主与政治迫害罪行，极力维护不可被维护的体制暴力行径，这无疑是对民主运动和赵明福家属最大的背叛。
柔佛州选中，无论新政权或旧政权至今都拒绝签署还赵明福公道的诉求，这证明两者都没有对破坏民主法治精神的赵明福案件有丝毫的省思、纠正和改革的意愿。
当新旧政治势力因利益关系而政治立场趋向一致，放弃他们多年来倡议的民主人权改革议程，民主运动参与者不能碍于战友情意结，包容放弃原则和拒绝纠错，只剩下为权力而权力的这群政治精英。
民主不走回头路，当民主运动走到一个节点的时候，民主运动参与者必须抛弃非理性的和感性的纠结，勇敢采取新的策略及结合新的力量，迈向实质民主的下一段里程碑。
追求还赵明福公道的运动，亦如是。
我们诚邀呼朋唤友出席这场追思会。这场追思会将有一场市民会议(townhall)，希望大家为我们的下一段里程碑给予意见。我们也将推介线上赵明福纪念馆和邀请党团领袖给予团结支援演说。谢谢。
报名链接：https://forms.gle/28ogCrfNyBSVsRcE7
赵明福民主促进会主席 隆雪华青团长
孔慧颖 黄彦铬