Teoh’s death: Calls for Royal Commission of Inquiry

Published: Friday July 17, 2009 MYT 4:39:00 PM
Updated: Friday July 17, 2009 MYT 6:40:00 PM
Teoh’s death: Calls for Royal Commission of Inquiry (Update 2)From The Star

PETALING JAYA: There were increasing calls from civil advocates and leaders from both sides of the political divide for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

Teoh, the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was reportedly assisting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its investigations into the alleged misuse of constituency funds by several state assemblymen.

His body was found on the fifth floor of Plaza Massalam in Shah Alam on Thursday, mere hours after he was interrogated by the MACC at its office on the 14th floor of the building.

A six-hour post-mortem was jointly carried out Friday by a pathologist from the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) pathologist Dr Prashant Samberkar.

Immediately after the post-mortem, Teoh’s body was sent to Malacca for the funeral next Monday.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin first suggested the formation of a Royal Commission on his Twitter account on Thursday night. On Friday, in his blog, he said this was needed to investigate the matter in a thorough and objective manner.

“This objectivity is necessary in avoiding any misunderstanding against the MACC as well as to protect its reputation,” he wrote.

Whatever Teoh’s political stance, the incident should be viewed as the tragic loss of a human life instead of a political issue, he said, urging all parties to be rational and not to speculate or point fingers.

The MIC Youth backed Khairy’s call, with its coordinator T. Mohan saying such an inquiry would help clear up doubts in the minds of the political parties as well as the people on the circumstances which led to Teoh’s death.

“The Government has to show that it has nothing to hide and should appoint independent people to be in the Royal Commission,” he said in a statement.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, chairman of the MACC’s Corruption Consultation and Prevention Panel, also said that a full inquiry must be carried out to restore public confidence in the MACC’s interrogation procedures and processes.

“And the report should be made public,” he said.

“The death of Teoh hours after he was interrogated by the MACC is very unfortunate and depressing,” said Ramon, adding that the MACC should not have carried out its interrogation for such long hours throughout the night, thus depriving Teoh of sleep.

“Anyone being interrogated by the police or the MACC would be under stress, and may not be in the best position to answer questions.

“This is why a full, open honest inquiry is absolutely necessary,” he said, adding that there should be a review, revision and reform of all the MACC’s investigation procedures as soon as possible.

“It is exceedingly difficult for the MACC and my panel to improve consultation with the public and to help prevent corruption if public confidence in the procedures, the processes and the will of the MACC to combat corruption is seriously lacking,” he added.

'Clear the air'
In BUTTERWORTH, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the MACC should quickly clear the air to restore public confidence.

He said apart from police investigations into the incident, the MACC should also disclose to the public what had happened while Teoh was at the Selangor MACC headquarters.

“The public has a right to know why Teoh’s interrogation had dragged on till 3am.

“They (MACC officers) could have interviewed him during office hours,” he told reporters after meeting hawkers at the MCA Bagan division office.

Liow said that the safety of those who being interrogated by the MACC should be taken care of at all times.

“The MCA is very concerned about this incident,” he said, adding that he hoped the police would also expedite necessary investigations.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein ordered the police to be transparent in its investigation.

He said he would personally be monitoring the investigation and wants the police to investigate “everybody and everything.”

“The incident is sad but the process of the law must take its place without anyone speculating, making false accusations or politicising it. The truth must prevail,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan also urged politicians and members of the public to refrain from speculating or spreading rumours regarding Teoh’s death.

He said the public should allow the police to complete their investigations before jumping to conclusion as such unsubstantiated rumours could create a tense situation.

“We will not hesitate to act against any one who spreads rumours of foul play. I assure them that there will be a thorough investigation and no cover-up,’’ he said.

Pakatan leaders want justice
In SHAH ALAM, Pakatan Rakyat leaders also urged the Government to establish a Royal Commission.

Leading the call was PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who said he and Selangor Mentri BesarTan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had met MACC director Jaafar Mahad in a one-hour discussion to register their “strongest possible protest” and to condemn the manner in which its investigations were carried out.

“We urge the Government to establish a Royal Commission to ensure a thorough and swift investigation into this high profile case, and not to shroud it in secrecy,” said Anwar.

“We are saddened with the puzzling death of Teoh ... people have lost confidence in the MACC and it is only right to conduct a transparent investigation,” he said.

Khalid said the state government and Pakatan leaders have decided that from now on, the MACC will only be allowed to interview state secretariat staff at the state building or at their respective offices.

“We are against the manner in which the MACC conducts its investigations. Our leaders feel that interviews should be conducted at the state secretariat building and that those being interviewed must be accompanied by a legal practitioner,” he said.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to establish the Royal Commission, describing the case as an “acid test” on transparency and how justice is served in Malaysia.

In IPOH, former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the incident raised many questions, and urged the MACC to “come clean” on the matter.

”We want the truth and a genuine investigation to be conducted,” Nizar told a press conference at the Perak DAP headquarters.

“We want to know why was he (Teoh) was detained until 4am when he was only a witness and not a suspect,” he said.

Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said they want an explanation from the graftbusting agency, and for it to be held accountable.