MACC halts internal inquiry on Teoh’s death

(The Star) PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has stopped its internal inquiry into events that transpired prior to the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said they have stopped because they did not want any disruption to the investigation being carried out by the police.

“We leave it entirely to the police to find out what really happened.

“Our internal inquiry may disrupt the police’s investigation process,’’ he said.

Ahmad has said on Saturday that an internal inquiry was being carried out to ascertain events that transpired prior to Teoh’s death.

Teoh, a political secretary to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on Thursday, hours after giving statements to MACC at its office on the 14th floor.

Teoh was said to be one of the key witnesses in the probe against several state assemblymen who allegedly misuse allocation funds.

On whether the police case would disrupt MACC’s investigation into the allegation of corruption involving Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen, Ahmad said no.

“The police’s investigation into Teoh’s death will not stop our investigation into the corruption case.

“We are still at the initial stage of probing. There are a lot of angles to look at,’’ he said.

Meanwhile MACC Corruption Consultation and Prevention Panel chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said several top advisers to various MACC panels were talking about possibility of quitting.

“I heard a few of them saying that what is the point of staying on if a royal commission of inquiry is not established. They feel that the MACC is not effective.

“If they want to leave it is their individual decision,’’ he said, stressing that they were only talking about leaving and that they had not made up their mind over it.

“I do not want to resign, as I believe in fulfilling my duties. As the Prime Minister appointed me, I have an obligation to serve in the true spirit of a former civil servant.

“However, we are frustrated over several inadequacies of MACC.

“MACC has many constraints including staffing, lack of specialised skills, finance and an old mindset that is not easy to change.

“There has to be a change in the mindset and more reforms in the systems and procedures within MACC.

“There are some very good officers (in MACC), but there are also many who are not up to the mark,’’ he said.

He said a royal commission of inquiry should be established in view of public outcry over the death of Teoh.

“This will assure the public of open and transparent investigation, as the royal commission would hear all sides and consider all evidences,’’ he said.

Perhaps the appointment of a royal commission could serve to bring to public attention the inadequacies in MACC and help provide better ideas for reforms and changes for the better,’’ he said.

Ramon said the public are questioning why there were no CCTV recordings when Teoh was giving his statements, adding people could also not accept that Teoh was deprived of sleep because of the prolonged questioning session.