The family of the late Teoh Beng Hock has expressed disappointment over the composition of the royal commission of inquiry that has been formed to look into the cause of his death.
In a statement today, Beng Hock's sister Lee Lan said that the family is relieved that the cause of death was part of the commission's terms of reference but said there was no consultation over the panel composition.
Lee Lan (right) laments that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak never consulted the family nor did they consider the seven nominees for the panel made by 126 NGOs.
The seven are former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam, former Bar Council presidents Ambiga Sreenevasan and Raja Aziz Addruse, former Court of Appeal judge NH Chan, former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar, rights group Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez and former Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ronald McCoy.
“We don't understand why not even one of the seven prominent names suggested by the NGOs was chosen,” said Lee Lan.
Lee Lan said that the family urges Najib to expand the panel's composition to include four more individuals from the seven suggested by the NGOs. She said that the additions would add to the commission's credibility and independence, and the public will have more confidence in its capabilities.
Family's pick
Of the seven, Lee Lan mentions former top cop Haniff, human rights expert Fernandez, legal experts Raja Aziz and Ambiga as the family's choice of additional commissioners.
“Only then can there be an all-encompassing investigation on Beng Hock's cause of death,” she said.
However, the family expressed gratitude that Najib kept his promise when he visited the family on July 28, 2009, almost two weeks after Beng Hock's passing.
