Commission to be set up to probe MACC‘s methods

Saturday January 8, 2011
Commission to be set up to probe MACC's methods
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and NG CHENG YEE
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Teoh Beng Hock case will be set up by Wednesday while the Attorney-General will apply to the High Court for a revision of the Coroner’s Court open verdict on his death, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The two-pronged move is in keeping with the Government’s effort to get to the truth about how Teoh died on July 16, 2009.

While the Attorney-General’s move is to determine the cause of death, the RCI will determine if there was any abuse of procedures by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission in its handling of the case.

Najib had promised six days after Teoh’s body was found on the 5th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam that this two-pronged approach would be adopted to ensure that the truth is unearthed.

The 30-year-old political secretary to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead at Plaza Masalam after being questioned by the Selangor MACC, which was then located on the 14th floor of the building.

Najib told a press conference here yesterday that the RCI chairman and members would be named after the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday and they would be given the task of looking into the anti-graft body’s investigation procedures.

On Wednesday, the Coroner’s Court returned an open verdict as Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas found there was insufficient evidence to prove that the political aide’s death was a homicide. He also ruled out suicide.

The Prime Minister said the RCI would have special terms of reference, and be given the authority to investigate the operations of MACC.

Asked if the RCI would look into Teoh’s cause of death, Najib reiterated that that was under the purview of the coroner’s inquest.

The Prime Minister reminded Teoh’s family members and the public not to be carried away with emotions when dealing with the case.

“While we sympathise with the family’s position and empathise with what they have gone through, I hope that they will allow this process to take place,l” he added.

On whether he would oblige Teoh’s family’s request for a meeting, Najib was willing to meet them but could not be sure when this could take place.

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