PETALING JAYA (July 19, 2009): Civil society groups want a Royal Commission of Inquiry to be establised to "independently and thoroughly investigate" the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock's death, and for all officers involved to be suspended till the inquiry is completed.

Malaysian Bar President, Ragunath Kesavan during press conference on death of MACC witness, Teoh Beng Hock at Bar Council, KL.

The 16 civil society groups, including the Malaysian Bar Council, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), and Writer Alliance for Media Independence(WAMI), also want half the members of the royal commission to be nominated by the Pakatan Rakyat to ensure credibility.

The joint statement issued by KLSCAH on behalf of the group on Friday said: "MACC national director Ahmad Said, Selangor Director Moh Samsudin and all officers involved in the investigation of Ean Yong and his fellow lawmakers be immediately suspended until the completion of the royal commission’s work to ensure no cover up or obstruction to the investigation."

KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee chairman Liau Kok Fah said the royal commission should also include "in its terms of reference the key issue of whether the present command and power structure of MACC has played a role" in the incident.

Teoh, 30, who was DAP Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah's political secretary, was believed to have fallen from the 14th floor of the building where the MACC Selangor headquarters was located in Shah Alam on Thursday.

KLSCAH is also calling for Minister at the Prime Minister Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz to apologise unreservedly to Teoh's family for speculating that he had jumped off the building ahead of the conclusion of investigations into the incident.

"The least we must do now is to ensure that justice is done with no cover up whatsoever and with full transparency and credibility," Liau said.

Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan, in a statement said: "The reported actions and omissions of MACC call into serious question the treatment of witnesses and suspects, and the methods of interrogation used on them by law enforcement officials."

Referring to the more than 10 hours of interrogation from 5pm to 3.45am, during which Teoh was deprived of sleep, Ragunath said: "Even detained persons have the right not to be interrogated during the night. They are to be allowed adequate rest."

"The manner of Teoh’s interrogation amounts to torture according to internationally- accepted human rights norms such as the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment 1984 and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights 1966," he said.

Other responses:

>> Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Elizabeth Wong: "MACC must operate within acceptable guidelines. Even the police stops interrogating suspects at 6pm.

"The police must seal off Plaza Masalam and take into custody all those involved in the interrogation. (MACC investigation division director) Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull on the other hand, should save whatever honour he and the MACC has left by resigning."

>> DAP veteran politician and MP for Ipoh Timor Lim Kit Siang: "The first death in MACC custody, Teoh Beng Hock is the defining test for the MACC as to its independence and professionalism as well as for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s commitment to accountability, transparency and the rule of law."

>> Gerakan central committee member Dr Hsu Dar Ren: "Since he was under the custody of MACC and died an unnatural death while still in the MACC building, MACC would have to give a satisfactory answer not only to the family of the deceased but to the public at large."

>> MCA Spokesperson & Political Education Bureau chief Gan Ping Sieu urged MACC to take full responsibility over the matter and appropriate action must be taken if it is found that there were MACC personnel or other individuals involved in the incident.

>> Wanita MCA chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun: "The government should consider setting up a royal commission to investigate Teoh’s death and releasing the findings of the inquiry to public."