Challenging RCI’s conclusions only defeats its purpose, says PM

Down memory lane: Wan Ali Wan Senapi showing Najib a photograph of Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister’s father, during a meet-the-people session at Nat Balai Baru Berseri market in Kangar yesterday.

KANGAR: Conclusions made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Teoh Beng Hock's death should not be questioned as this will only defeat its purpose, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the RCI was an independent body, which had been set up with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's consent and made up of individuals with high credibility to investigate the matter openly.

“What is the purpose of setting up the RCI if its findings are questioned? There are groups which questioned it because they are unhappy with the findings.

“They have made their own conclusion and they wanted the RCI's report to reflect their thinking and demands. That is unfair
“The truth remains the truth whether it is bitter or easy for us to accept. We can't deny the truth,” he said after meeting the Perlis Barisan Nasional leaders yesterday.

The Commission had concluded that Teoh was driven to commit suicide due to intensive interrogation by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

The 124-page report had singled out three MACC officers.

On demands that the three officers be charged as soon as possible, Najib said investigations needed to be carried out first to determine the exact offences committed by them.

“There is a need to identify if they had violated the law or breached administrative procedures. Once this has been determined, appropriate action can be taken,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that the Government wanted the three MACC officers charged and that an investigation paper be opened based on the report's findings.

Teoh, 30, the political secretary to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after giving a statement at the Selangor MACC office on the 14th floor of the same building.

The setting up of the commission was announced by Najib on Jan 26 after the Coroner's Court delivered an open verdict.