The Selangor government has suggested that Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand be allowed to testify at Teoh Beng Hock's inquest through video-conferencing.

NONEAt a press conference after the state legislative assembly sitting in Shah Alam today, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim (centre) said he still harbours hope that Pornthip will attend the inquest.

But should that be impossible, Khalid hoped that she and the coroner's court will agree to testimony through video-conferencing.

Khalid was responding to Malaysiakini's interview with Pornthip, in which she claimed that there was political pressure from the Malaysian authorities to stop her from testifying.

"It is our duty to protect Pornthip. But I hope that the allegations... are untrue (as) it is not in the interest of any government to not seek the truth.

"We still want her to come, but if she cannot, we hope she can give her testimony via the Internet (video-conferencing), and that the court will accept it," he said.

NONEPornthip, renowned regionally for her work, is a crucial witness engaged by the Selangor government to observe the second autopsy on Teoh.

She has thus far testified that Teoh's death was likely "80 percent homicide" and pointed out apparent strangulation marks on the deceased, a contentious point missed out by her Malaysian counterparts.

Khalid also condemned Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz who yesterday claimed that Pornthip had lied in her testimony and about being pressured to bow out from the inquest.

"Diplomatically, it is not a good idea to call those outside our country liars... He has to be careful (with what he says). Pornthip deals with dead bodies," quipped Khalid.