KUALA LUMPUR, 20 July 2009: The MCA wants the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ensure that the investigation into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock would be done transparently and professionally, and would not be doubted by the people.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said the party would forward the request to the government and the country’s apex leadership soon.
Speaking at a news conference at his office in Parliament House here today, Wong, who is also Senate president, said it would be good if the case was investigated by a commission accepted by all.
Teoh, 30, was found dead on the roof of the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, which also houses the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office on the 14th floor, at 1.30pm on 16 July.
The political aide of Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP-SeriKembangan), Teoh was a witness in MACC investigations relating to the alleged misappropriation of state allocations.
Wong said people should not politicise the issue. “Our stand is very clear on that. We will put this party view to the government, and the MCA will follow-up very closely,” he added.
Yesterday, Wong, representing party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat, visited Teoh’s family.
Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said today the party would support the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe into Teoh’s death.
He said the MIC’s representative in the cabinet, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam, who is the human resources minister, would be asked to back the MCA’s proposal at the next cabinet meeting. Subramaniam has said he would carry out his party president’s instruction.
“We will support the proposal because we want justice to prevail,” Samy Vellu said in a statement here.
“It was an unfortunate incident, and we hope through the formation of the commission, the truth will prevail,” he said, adding that people should stop pointing fingers at anyone until investigations by the police have been concluded.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said recently the cabinet would discuss the setting up of the commission at its next meeting while the police continues with their probe. — Bernama
kanna says
Hello MCA and MIC puppets. Make it happen and we will salute you. You can talk only, go for BN supreme meeting, shake heads and say “Ya tuan, ya datuk.”
Alan Tan says
Sheer idiocy. The MACC is supposed to tread where commoners and the police cannot or should not.
Now we got the police investigating the MACC.
Very cyclic and all in the family isn’t it?
Maybe tomorrow the public gets to audit IRD’s budget and spending?
k c low says
Is there any use in setting up the RCI. Look at what happened to Lingam’s case. Nothing came out of it and it will be the same as Teoh’s case. Just a waste of time.
Gopal Raj Kumar says
Just what the doctor ordered. Samy Vellu’s (and MIC’s) intercession and his contribution to this affair is like the much needed ham and bacon sandwich at a PAS gathering.
The fact remains that the man whom Teoh served has remained deafeningly silent so far.
There is no reason to believe the MACC was responsible for Teoh’s death just because they detained him for questioning. If this publication and others allow such speculation by the public about why the MACC is responsible in such circumstances and in doing so invite suspicion to the extent of murder or culpability on the part of MACC in the death of Teoh amounting to murder, there is a general obligation and a right to ask why, a man who could have provided credible evidence involving millions of [ringgit] of state and public funds unaccounted for by a state apparatus belonging to the opposition should commit suicide (or be pushed as incredulous RPK speculates).
The triads and their very unhealthy hold on members of parliament as well on public servants is something that needs to be made the subject of public debate and a Royal Commission.
Nicholas Aw says
With pressure from various sources including the MCA and MIC it is likely that a Royal Commission of enquiry would be set up. But this time around, this Royal Commission should have more bite and the findings should be acted upon by the relevant authorities.
Currently, Royal Commissions of enquiry are akin to toothless tigers as could be seen from the lack of action in the case of the infamous Lingam affair. Despite photographic proof of Lingam’s involvement with retired CJ Eusoff Chin, no action was taken on those involved.
What more in the case of the death of Teoh Beng Hock? It would be near impossible to ascertain for sure how he died as there is no tangible evidence. Whatever decision that may be deduced would probably be based upon circumstances. Even the police stated that CCTV recording showed Teoh entering the building but not leaving. Of course this statement from the police is obvious. If he had been caught on camera leaving the building then he would still be alive today, wouldn’t he?
As I see it, there will not be enough concrete evidence to show conclusively whether he committed suicide or it was a freak accident or someone had killed him. Whatever the outcome, nothing can bring this young man back to life.
What is more urgently important is the implementation of reforms not only for the MACC but also the police where the latter had had a number of questionable deaths of people in police detention. Interrogations should be on camera to remove the notion of police brutality and other accusations from those detained. Proper guidelines have to be adhered to so that the MACC and the police would be able to regain the public trust.
It is of no use for the MACC to have a new name or the police to have the IPCMC as they would still be perceived as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
k c low says
Is there any use in setting up the RCI. Look at the RCI on Lingam. To date nothing happened. MCA must be joking.