By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider
PETALING JAYA, July 23 — The Federal Government move to limit the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) following the death of political secretary Teoh Beng Hock is coming under fire from Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
During a press conference at PKR Headquarters today, PR lawmakers questioned why the commission was being called upon only to probe into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating procedures and if Teoh’s human rights were violated.
However the cause of his death had been left to the court to determined during an inquest.
In a joint statement, MPs Sivarasa Rasiah, Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad and Selangor state lawmaker Lau Weng San said the decision by the Cabinet makes a mockery of the public outcry for justice, truth and accountability.
They said MACC’s conduct open the body to accusations and that their investigations so far had been selective and politically motivated to target only PR lawmakers and worse still, appears to be made along racial lines.
On July 13, Selangor executive councillor Teresa Kok revealed seven PR lawmakers from the Petaling District were being investigated for misusing state allocations. Despite denials from MACC, only files involving the Chinese lawmakers were seized from the Petaling District office.
PR said the oppressive conduct in MACC investigations are clearly connected to Teoh, who was found dead on the 5th floor of Plaza Masalam, The facts of what really happened after he was questioned by MACC whose office in on the 14th floor of the building needs to be uncovered.
They pointed out many troubling questions remain unanswered.
Among them:
- Why more serious complaints of corruption involving Barisan Nasional leaders were not investigated;
- Who directed the MACC to start the witch hunt against the Selangor state lawmakers;
- Why Teoh’s case allegedly involving an amount less than RM2,500 was pursued with such aggression and urgency;
- Why Teoh and another so-called “witness” were kept overnight and interrogated with such oppression;
- The delay in informing the concerned parties of Teoh’s death;
- Why Teoh’s handphone was kept by officers when the MACC maintains he was only a witness;
- Why was Teoh’s lawyer not allowed to see or accompany him during interrogation;
- Why would Teoh spend the night at the MACC’s office if he was free to go especially since he was going to get registered the next morning;
- Why would Teoh commit suicide (as claimed by MACC and others) when he was about to get married and with his fiancé expecting their child and while he had no history of depression or mental illness.
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