Malaysian opposition wants royal commission into suspicious death
Updated
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak says an inquest will be held into the death of a political aide who apparently plunged from the 14th floor from the offices of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The body of Opposition political aide Teo Beng Hock was found on the roof of an adjacent building, after being questioned late into the night at the offices of the anti-corruption commission. Opposition groups have held several protests since Mr Teo's death, raising questions on whether he fell by accident, killed himself, or was murdered.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Lim Kit Siang, veteran opposition leader and spokesman of the Democratic Action Party
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LAM: The Prime Minister says he himself will meet personally with the deceased's family when the findings are confirmed so obviously the Prime Minister himself is taking the matter very seriously.
LIM: Not seriously enough, I think he should meet with the family in fact I met with the brother and sister last night and they were very very upset by this decision, I call on the Prime Minister to meet with the family and hear their call for a full Royal Commission of Inquiry and I'm prepared to take the family to meet the Prime Minister, if the Prime Minister is prepared to hear the truth and nothing but the truth.
LAM: Isn't it a little premature to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry when the police investigations are not finished.
LIM: There is very simple case, very simple illustration, there is no confidence in the professional of the police in political high-profile cases. The case of Anwar Ibrahim ten years ago when he was in police custody and came out with the black eye is the best example. He was at that time accused of self inflicted wounds, and only a Royal Commission of Inquiry as a result of nationwide pressure could produce the truth that he was attacked by at the time, the Inspector General of Police himself.
LAM And why do you think Teo Beng Hock's death has triggered such public anger?
LIM: I think it underlines the Malaysian anti-corruption agency which was established to declare war on corruption has instead declared war on the bata-karakia
LAM:So you think the anti-corruption commission has been politicised and is on the government's side?
LIM: Exactly ..I would describe it as a political death as a result of the fear of the anti-corruption agency to be independent and professional.
LAM:Do you think this case has taken racial dimensions?
LIM: I have been accused by the Minister of turning into a racial issue, it's not a racial issue in fact at all our public gatherings all races are represented. It is UMNO for example that had demonstrations in K.L.
LAM: But the Malay newspaper has criticised the Opposition for alleging that Malays cannot run the anti-corruption commission
LIM: We criticised the anti-corruption agency not because it's a Malay institution but because it's a Malaysian institution, the very fact a leading newspaper could make such an allegation shows how nation building has failed.
