Chow said the motions were rejected due to a verbal response from home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on July 2, indicating the police were investigating the case under Section 342 of the Penal Code (which deals with wrongful confinement).
“I regret the speaker’s decision to reject both motions,” Chow said in a statement.
He urged the speaker to allow NGOs to conduct advocacy and protests within the Parliament complex to uphold the principle of a “people-owned Parliament”.
However, Chow said he welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement to meet Teoh’s family next week.
“I urge the prime minister to take appropriate action by directing the relevant authorities to investigate the suspects responsible for Teoh’s death under Section 302 of the Penal Code (which deals with murder).
“He should also implement the three demands of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement – seeking truth, delivering justice and institutional reforms,” he said.
On Tuesday, Chow submitted the motions under Standing Order 18(2), which covers matters of public interest that require urgent attention.
His motions sought to urgently debate Teoh’s case and to allow civilians and civil society groups to enter Parliament to submit demands to the government.
This follows an incident outside Parliament on Monday which left Teoh’s sister hurt while a group was trying to submit a memorandum to MPs.
The Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement and other supporters had arrived at Parliament after a three-day, 96km walk for justice.
They made several demands in their memorandum, including amendments to Section 30 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act to limit interrogation time as well as the enactment of an anti-torture law.
In 2009, the former aide to then Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after arriving for questioning on the 14th floor of the Selangor MACC headquarters.
A coroner’s inquest in 2011 delivered an open verdict and his family subsequently filed an appeal. Three years later, the Court of Appeal set aside the open verdict and ruled that Teoh’s death was caused by multiple injuries as a result of unlawful acts by unknown persons.