TEOH FAMILY URGES MALAYSIAN GOVT TO GIVE DR PORNTHIP SAFETY GUARANTEE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- The family of Teoh Beng Hock Thursday
urged the government to give an assurance on the safety of renowned Thai
pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand for her to testify at Beng Hock's inquest.

Teoh's younger sister, Teoh Lee Lan, said the family was upset and disturbed
over the news that Dr Pornthip could not come to Malaysia as it was reported
that she was facing "political pressure".

"Dr Pornthip testified that there was 80 per cent possibility that Beng
Hock's death was a homicide and not suicide. We hope that Dr Pornthip can help
us to find out the truth of Beng Hock's death.

"But, all of a sudden, Dr Pornthip said that due to political pressure, she
was not able to come to testify. Everything is now back to square one. How can
we not be disappointed?," she told a news conference at the Parliament lobby
here.

She sincerely hoped that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak could
give Dr Pornthip the guarantee she needed, including an official guarantee from
the government and the Attorney-General's Chambers on her safety, to perform her
profesional duty as an independent witness in the case.

Meanwhile, Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament Lim Kit Siang, who was also
present, said he hoped the government would keep the promise on Dr Pornthip's
safety.

-- BERNAMA