Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has guaranteed Dr Pornthip Rajanasunand’s safety should she appear as a witness in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.

NONE He also appealed to Pornthip to provide the Malaysian authorities information regarding her allegations that there was “political pressure” from Malaysia for her not to testify at the inquest.

“We will guarantee the safety of everybody, Malaysians, non-Malaysians, tourists, anybody who happens to be on Malaysian soil. It’s our duty to protect and ensure their security,” he said.

At a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, Hishammuddin  ( above ) promised that the police would investigate Pornthip’s claims, and urged her to provide more information.

“We’ve always guaranteed (all foreigners' safety) but they must come with details, with facts, with direct correlation to the fear that your safety is at risk. But at the moment, (all we have is) a general allegation that she is concerned about her safety. How can we work on that?”

He said the authorities will look into two aspects - that she was pressured and that she feared for her safety.

“I urge her to come forward with more details on both aspects so we can have a thorough investigation. I have got nothing to hide,” he said.

On Sunday, Pornthip told Malaysiakini that she was informed by Thai government officials that their Malaysian counterparts have been giving " signals " to the Thai Foreign Ministry that she would not be welcomed at the inquest.

Following this, she decided not to participate in the inquest. She was scheduled to testify on April 20 and is expected to be quizzed on her observation of Teoh’s second autopsy.

AG: I want her to come

teoh exhumation exhumed 211109 porntip Prior to the second autopsy, Pornthip ( left ) was engaged by the Selangor government to study documents pertaining to his death.

After observing the medical reports and photographs of Teoh’s body, Pornthip deduced that the cause of death was “80 percent homicide”.

Later, the Selangor government brought her to Malaysia to observe the second autopsy.

She was not allowed to perform the autopsy because local laws stipulate that it must be done by a local pathologist.

In another development, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail said there was no reason for Pornthip to worry about her security.

“As far as I am concerned, she is welcome. I want her to come and give evidence in peace... I will make sure that the authorities will provide the security. No problems,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby.

Echoing Hishammuddin, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister A Kohilan Pillay urged that Porntip reveal the person who is exerting pressure on her and that they will investigate the allegation.

"Let her give the names to us and we will investigate," he said adding that the government is not stopping anyone from entering the country.