By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — The DAP has demanded that the Cabinet convenes an emergency meeting to discuss Thai pathologist Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand’s claims of “political pressure” which had forced her to pull out from testifying in the on-going Teoh Beng Hock inquest.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said Dr. Pornthip’s claims of external pressure from Putrajaya that “could affect her work” in Thailand was a serious matter, which needed to be addressed immediately.
“The Cabinet should convene an emergency meeting to send a message that Dr. Pornthip be allowed to come and testify..to ensure her safety and well-being here and no pressure (from any parties),” said Lim at a press conference attended by Teoh family lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.
He also slammed Minister in Prime Minister’s department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz for accusing Dr. Pornthip of lying about allegations of political pressure, and stressed that Nazri should withdraw his statements and apologize.
“Nazri has made very serious statements when he said that Dr. Pornthip had lied during the inquest and she’s lying now, when she said that she had been pressured from coming to testify in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.”
“How does Nazri know that it (Dr.Pornthip’s) statements are baseless? If Nazri is saying that he is privy to all, the MACC, government..Nazri should explain (how does he know),” said Lim.
Gobind berated Nazri’s actions and said that it was unbecoming of a de facto law minister to make such unsubstantiated claims.
“I agree. The conduct by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz as de facto minister is unbecoming..Nazri should have not jumped to conclusions, investigate the matter first. There is no basis to allege that it is a lie without investigation. It is uncalled for for Nazri to call her a liar.
“If Nazri has proof, I challenge him to show proof,” said the Puchong MP.
The lawyer also stated that the matter needed to be brought to the highest legal authority of the land.
“The Attorney-General should intervene in the case. Nazri should consult the Attorney-General,” he said.
Gobind also revealed that Teoh’s lawyers were considering several options in the case, and one was the possibility of citing Nazri for contempt of court.
“This is something that we will have to consult further. If he does not prove it, we will consider taking matters further.”
“We need to take it one step at a tome, give him (Nazri) an opportunity to respond. I challenge him to come to the inquest,” he added.
The Thai pathologist’s reported pull-out from testifying in the Teoh inquest next week due to political interference has raised fears among the Teoh family and the DAP that the case is being tampered with at the highest level.
The Selangor government has confirmed the Thai pathologist is not returning when the inquest resumes on April 20 but they want the coroner to agree to testimony via video-conferencing.
Dr Pornthip, 54, the director-general of Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science, had reportedly pulled out from the ongoing case, claiming she was forced to do so because of “political pressure” from Putrajaya that could affect her work in southern Thailand.
However Nazri believes that Dr Pornthip is lying because she cannot defend her testimonial in the inquest.
The flashy Thai pathologist had testified in court here that Teoh’s death was “80 per cent homicide”, contradicting Malaysian pathologists who say the political aide could have fallen to his death or suicide.
Her second testimony will be crucial to the inquest, and to prove allegations that there was foul play in Teoh’s death.
Teoh, 30, had been questioned by anti-graft officers investigating claims his boss had misused state funds. He was found dead on July 16 last year, nine floors below the Selangor MACC’s office in Shah Alam.