RCI Should Stick to the Necessary

The inquest to investigate and ascertain the late Teoh Beng Hock’s cause of death has drawn to a conclusion. Coroner Azmi Muntapha gave an open verdict whereby no conclusive decision can be drawn based on the various circumstantial as well as factual evidences.

After more than a year of intense argument from the opposing teams, the learned Coroner has surely more than sufficient time and facts to put enough thought to his verdict. He would have examined all angles of the case before coming up with a conclusive decision. With the Coroner’s verdict out, all speculation and allegations on the late Teoh Beng Hock’s death should cease as dragging the issue further could damage the credibility of the courts as well as the government institutions.

Lengthening the matter allows opportunists and politicians with vested interest to harp on the issue and blow up the matter for political mileage. By playing with the sentiments of the public, this group of people breeds mistrusts and fan the flames of hatred in our society.

Due to overwhelming pressure, the Prime Minister announced last week that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) would be established to study the investigating procedures of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and to determine whether there was a violation of human rights in the investigation process involving Teoh. Unfortunately, certain quarters took matters into their own hands when they called on the government to ascertain the cause of Teoh’s death in the RCI as well.

This is not only unnecessary but a total waste of time and government funds. After all, the learned Coroner has already come up with a conclusive decision after hearing arguments from equally learned Counsels. Why not move on from that episode so that other more worthwhile and important issues take centre stage?

Sometimes, it is good to let bygones be bygones so that the country is able to develop and progress in other areas. Insisting that the RCI uncover the cause of Teoh’s death is not only futile and unproductive but it borders on the edge of insanity. The famous Albert Einstein once said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

from : concern citizen