Thursday, July 23, 2009

They will heed the call and set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry - but to look at investigation procedures...not the death of Teoh

Why did people called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry? To inquire into how Teoh Beng Hock died....

And Najib is setting up a Royal Commission to look into procedures...
The cabinet today agreed to set up a royal commission to look into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's investigative procedures and to determine if there were any human right violations when Teoh Beng Hock was being interrogated.- Malaysiakini, 22/7/2009, Cabinet approves royal commission

“The Royal Commission will be set up according to specific terms, which is to scrutinise and study the procedures related to interrogations that are used by the MACC. It will also identify if there were any violations of human rights during Teoh’s interrogation.

“The members of the Commission will be announced later ,” he told a press conference here Wednesday.

He said the investigations by the Royal Commission were necessary to ensure there was no repeat of such incidents and the steps being taken mirrored the Government’s commitment to finding out the cause of death so that Teoh’s family and the public can know what really happened.- Star, 22/7/2009,Inquest into Teoh’s death, Royal Commission on MACC's treatment (Updated with Q&A)

What will the Commission investigate?
It will be on the (MACC’s) procedures relating to its investigation, not the investigation on Teoh’s death and the normal investigations conducted by the MACC..- Star, 22/7/2009,Inquest into Teoh’s death, Royal Commission on MACC's treatment (Updated with Q&A)

To find out the cause of death, and whether any person is criminally liable - they are going to have an inquest...
Prime Minister Najib Abul Razak - who chaired the meeting - also revealed that an inquest will be held to determine Teoh's cause of death...."I know the police can wrap up investigations very soon. We are talking about a matter of days but the inquest is up to the magistrate to decide.- Malaysiakini, 22/7/2009, Cabinet approves royal commission

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Cabinet during its meeting Wednesday also decided that the inquest into Teoh’s cause of death would be headed by a magistrate as dictated by law.

It will be up to the courts to decide which magistrate would be in charge of the inquest, he added.

Najib said the courts had already been notified of the Cabinet decision and he expected the inquest to begin sometime next week. - Star, 22/7/2009,Inquest into Teoh’s death, Royal Commission on MACC's treatment (Updated with Q&A)

Maybe, we should just have SUHAKAM, Malaysia's Human Rights Commission doing a public Inquiry...for after all, they are already investigating...
The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will carry out a thorough investigation into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

Its commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam said that the investigation would also cover complaints from individuals of being injured during a demonstration in front of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam where Teoh was found dead on Thursday.

“Suhakam will conduct an independent investigation into the two incidents and whatever decision made, such as on whether there should be a public inquiry, will be known after our meeting next month,” Subramaniam told reporters at the Suhakam office here yesterday after receiving a protest memorandum from several individuals who claimed to have been injured by police during the demonstration.

Subramaniam also urged that the fundamental rights of individuals be respected and protected when any investigation is being carried out by the relevant authorities or agencies.

“According to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, torture involves any act inflicted on a person to obtain from him or a third person information or confession with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity,” Subramaniam said - Star, 22/7/2009, Suhakam to conduct thorough investigation

Royal Commission - another one, and this time, they may not be so committed to come out with detailed reccomendations and draft Bills... for after all, the UMNO led-BN government does not have a history of following these recomendations, even if it comes from a ROYAL Commission... Where is that Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), that was reccomended by 2 Royal Commissions of Inquiry?

When I read Malaysiakini, and the words uttered by Najib, I could not help but smile..."We want to establish the truth and nothing but the truth... it is important for us to ensure that public faith and confidence in important institutions," Najib expressed.

I remember Altantuya's case - and I do not believe that them 'important institutions' did even question Najib to 'establish the truth and nothing but the truth...'. Public faith and confidence in the police and other 'important institutions' has been eroded... The head of the Judiciary, who admitted to 'bribing' (later to deny)...and later to have been revealed to have lied when a tape recording surfaced, and the fact that no action was taken, even further erodes 'public faith and confidence' in the judiciary...


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