Media Statement by Loke Siew Fook in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 23^rd July 2009:

Decision to shun RCI in favour of inquest an insult to the public; Government’s course of action is just a PR exercise

The Cabinet’s decision to launch magistrate’s inquest instead of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious death is an insult to the Malaysian public, and particularly Teoh’s family.

Teoh’s family, colleagues and comrades, as well as members of the public have been calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh’s death to clear all doubts over this case. However, the government has turned a deaf ear to the wishes of the people.

The half-hearted plan to just carry out an inquest into Teoh’s death is simply not the solution to bring about justice to Teoh. It is merely a political solution for Najib to try and limit the outpouring of negative sentiments towards government institutions triggered by the tragedy.

This, together with the setting up of a Royal Commission to probe MACC’s interrogation procedures, is just a public relations exercise designed to somehow please the angry public. But we will not be fooled!

The Cabinet should shelve its plan for a magistrate’s inquest and set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh’s death if it is really sincere in finding the truth and helping Teoh’s family.

* Loke Siew Fook, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) National Chairman & MP for Rasah