We hope the Royal Commission finds the cause of Teoh's death

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw hopes that the Royal Commission will succeed in finding out the cause of Teoh Beng Hock's death, so that the people especially the family will know the whole truth.

On 27.1.2011, Dr Tan comments on the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry anounced by the Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to it under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1950. It will take three months. On 5.1.2011, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas returned an open verdict on Teoh's case.

The Commission, headed by Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen, will also inquire into Teoh’s death and the circumstances surrounding and contributing to it.

The other members of the commission are former Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Selventhiranathan Thiagarajah, Penang Hospital’s senior consultant forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh and Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science’s dean of medical faculty Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom. The Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs division director-general Datuk Saripuddin Kasim is the commission secretary.

The terms of reference of the commission is to inquire whether or not there was any impropriety in the conduct of the examination of Teoh in the course of an investigation by the MACC in relation to its standing orders and practices. It will also enquire into Teoh’s death and the circumstances surrounding and contributing to his death.

We hope the Commission succeeds in finding out the cause of death of Teoh. Once the whole truth is revealed, it will help to improve the confidence of the people towards the judiciary.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw