Teoh’s family wants Royal Commission to determine cause of death

SHAH ALAM: The family of Teoh Beng Hock insists that the royal commission to be set up should also determine the cause of death of the Selangor political aide and not merely scrutinise the mode of questioning employed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan, said the family expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for having met family members and explained the setting up of the royal commission of inquiry but felt that the cause of her brother’s death should be determined by the royal commission.

Teoh, 30, political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam here after having given a statement as a witness to the MACC over allegations of misuse of funds by Selangor state executive councillors.

The MACC office is located on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam.

On July 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that an inquest would be held to determine the cause of Teoh’s death.

He also said that a royal commission of inquiry would be set up to determine the standard operating procedure of questioning of witnesses and suspects by the MACC.

Lee Lan spoke to reporters outside the magistrate’s court here where the inquest into Teoh’s death began Wednesday. Teoh’s father Leong Hwee, elder brother Beng Kee and fiancee Soh Cher Wei also attended the hearing.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas adjourned hearing to next Wednesday to enable counsel holding watching brief for the relevant parties to scrutinise the documents made available to the court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said an inquest was not suitable as it had limited scope to determine Teoh’s death.

“Public confidence is involved and public confidence demands a royal commission of inquiry. So, I call for the prime minister, attorney general and the cabinet to respect the wishes of the family by suspending the inquest and establishing a royal commission to find out the cause of Teoh’s death,” he said. -Bernama