Monday, July 20, 2009

Thousands say goodbye to Teoh

malaysianinsider







By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

ALOR GAJAH, July 20 — Nobody knows how he died even though the autopsy report says he died from internal injuries sustained in a fall. But what were his thoughts just before he died? Was he alone?

Today, at his funeral, thousands of people were determined that Teoh Beng Hock would not go to his final resting place alone. The funeral procession is led by a group walking ahead of the hearse and carrying a huge black banner that says, “Justice for Beng Hock, Answers for Rakyat.”

A band is playing and his crying siblings walk behind the slow-moving hearse. They each have a hand on the hearse as it moves through the congested road in Melekek.

His parents mourn at home, following a Chinese custom that dictates parents do not attend the funeral of a child.

A whole phalanx of Pakatan Rakyat politicians walk behind the Teoh siblings while hundreds line the road, saying their farewell to the 30-year-old political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah.

A little after 11am, the procession ends and the cortege makes its way to the cemetery in Semenyih.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking to members of the press present at the funeral, said: “Firm action must be taken. The chairman of the MACC must be held accountable. This death is a cruel one. Enough is enough.”

On arrival at the cemetery, the casket was taken to a nearby temple for some prayers. At about 2pm, the casket was lowered into the ground with about 100 people in attendance.

The crowd is growing in size, numbering to a few hundred now, and including Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and a few DAP lawmakers. The family has yet to arrive so the burial ceremony has not yet begun.

The prayers begin the minute Teoh’s siblings arrive. The sisters are crying and after the prayers, paper offerings are burned at the graveside.

The ashes from the offerings fill the air and his friends sing him a last farewell song... and with that Teoh Beng Hock is finally buried.




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