Will the RCI get to the bottom of Beng Hock’s death?

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By Dr Toh Kin Woon

After much pressure, the Federal Government finally relented to public demand for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to get to the bottom of the death of Teoh Beng Hock (TBH), an aide to State Executive Councillor in Selangor, Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Ever since his death at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the 16th July, 2009, both Beng Hock's family and the public at large have been eager to know who caused his death and why.

Unfortunately, their desire for the truth has till today remained as yet unfulfilled. Now that the RCI has been set up, there is hope that the truth may finally be revealed. Or will it? If there is such a doubt in the minds of the family and the public, they can be excused.

Already, both the family's lawyers and the family have shown their total lack of confidence in the ability of the RCI to seek the truth by withdrawing from the hearing.

Besides, many a state institution, public agency and commission of inquiry have let the public down through their lack of competence, professionalism and independence.

Often, many just act as instruments to serve the interests of the ruling elites. As a result, public confidence in the institutions of the state is at low ebb. This is one of the major problems confronting the Malaysian nation today.

Unless reversed and reversed quickly, the investment climate will be adversely affected. This is because the propensity to invest is largely influenced by whether investors, both foreign and domestic, have trust and confidence in the institutions of the state to perform their roles effectively, professionally and in an open and transparent manner.

The performance of the RCI into the causes of the death of TBH will either exacerbate or mitigate this erosion of confidence.

Let us hope and pray that members of the RCI, led by His Lordship Mr. James Foong, a Federal Court judge, will carry out their mandate without fear or favour; that the truth will be revealed soon and that members of TBH's family, who have been suffering all this while, will see an end to their suffering and torture.

If indeed the truth is found and the culprits behind the death of TBH are identified, Malaysians' confidence in the institutions of the state may be partially restored.

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