Najib: This is what civil societies Teoh’s family wants

RCI to investigate Teoh Beng Hock’s death: I hope the civil societies and the Malaysian public do not let APCO Najib get away with another useless expensive public relation exercise funded with public money. After all Najib had already blown countless millions on PR to improve his and UMNO/BN’s image plus billions on useless military spending including those useless Scorpene submarines.

Najib should not waste money on an RCI to investigate violations of Teoh Beng Hock’s human rights, a fact already known. This is what Teoh Beng Hock’s family, the civil societies and the Malaysian public wants

1. 7 trusted prominent citizens named below

2.  Selection panel for RCI to include Teoh’s family

3. Terms of reference finalized with consultation with Teoh’s family and to include investigating cause of death and those responsible

4. Investigate allegations of torture, illegal detention and other misconducts by MACC

Article below courtesy of Malaysiakini: NGOs propose 7 for Teoh Beng Hock RCI:

 

NGOs propose 7 for Beng Hock RCI

S Pathmawathy
Jan 11, 11
12:52pm

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Civil society groups have proposed a list of "potential commissioners" for the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the events leading to the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

The 120 NGOs, led by the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), also backed the Malaysians for Beng Hock Movement.

They stressed that the government should appoint individuals who:
- are outstanding and professional figures with high integrity;
- have a proven track record of defending human rights; and
- have relevant experience in the area of human rights, law enforcement, judiciary and non-governmental activism.

The individuals proposed include former deputy prime minister and Suhakam chairperson Musa Hitam, former Bar Council presidents Ambiga Sreenevasan and Raja Aziz Addruse and former Court of Appeal judge NH Chan.

Also suggested were former inspector-general of police Haniff Omar, Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez and former Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ronald McCoy.

The NGOs further proposed that a panel of individuals be set up to select the RCI members.

The selection panel should include representatives of Teoh's family, the Bar Council, the Selangor government and the human rights community.

This, they said, would ensure "full consultation and credibility”.
They also insisted that the federal government must not finalise the terms of the RCI or announce its membership without consulting the Teoh family, Selangor state government and the human rights community.
"Otherwise, the RCI will be seen as a public relations exercise of the federal government, with its independence and credibility called into question even before embarking on its task," said Lawyers for Liberty representative Fadiah Nadwa Fikri.
Teoh had been called in as a witness by the Selangor MACC on July 15, 2009 over allegations of irregularities into the use of funds by members of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government.
He was found dead the following morning on the fifth-floor landing of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.The Selangor MACC's office is located on the 14th floor.
Last week Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas declared an open verdict on Teoh's cause of death after an 18-month inquest.

Last week, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced the formation of a RCI to determine whether the MACC had breached procedures and violated human rights when interrogating Teoh.

'Terms of reference'

Najib is expected to announce the terms of reference for the RCI and the names of commissioners tomorrow.

Civil society groups want the terms of references to include the cause of Teoh's death, "especially identifying the cause of bruise which appeared on his neck".

"(The RCI must) identify the political, administrative and criminal responsibility of all individuals or institutions whose decisions and acts had directly or indirectly led to the death of Teoh and recommend specific actions to charge or penalise these individuals," said Fadiah Nadwa (right).
"(It must investigate) other allegations of torture, illegal detention and other misconduct by MACC if and when necessary and propose reforms to the formal procedures of the actual practices in MACC's investigation and interrogation."

Other concerns highlighted were a review of the MACC's investigation protocols to be in tandem with human rights standards and international best practices.
Tan Yew Sin, president of civil right committee of KLSCAH, added that Teoh's death was a "well publicised" matter but the open verdict could not resolve the doubts of the people.
"The RCI must ensure to rekindle public confidence in the system," said Tan
The Bar Council's human right committee chairperson Andrew Khoo added that the RCI may not be adequate to end the issue at hand if the terms were ones that were specific.
"There has to be a wider range of terms of reference," he said.

Khoo also expressed doubt as to whether the government has the "political will" to implement the RCI's recommendations when the inquiry ends.