The royal commission of inquiry to investigate the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock can proceed with the inquiry on Monday, said its secretary Saripuddin Kasim.

He said everything was in place for the inquiry to proceed and that the five members of the commission led by Federal Court judge James Foong Cheng Yuen were satisfied with the court room provided for it.

He said the room could accomodate up to 52 people and that priority would be given to media personnel and family members.

Saripuddin told this to reporters after attending the second meeting of the commission, which was set up on Jan 26, at the Jalan Duta Court Complex today.

He said the meeting was to update the commission's panel on the status of preparations for the inquiry.

The other members of the commission which is expected the conclude the inquiry in three months are former Federal Court judge Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, former Appeals Court judge T Selventhiranathan, Penang Hospital's forensic pathologist Dr Bhupinder Singh and Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom, dean of Cyberjaya Medical Sciene College University.

Saripuddin said at today's meeting, the commission also decided that on the first day's proceedings (Monday), the panel members would make decisions on several applications made by the family of Teoh who is represented by lawyer Karpal Singh and the government of Selangor represented by lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

Karpal Singh, when met by reporters, said he had asked the commission to review its hearing dates as he had other cases to attend to.

'Conflict of hearings'

He also said the setting up of the commission gave rise to a "conflict of hearings" as the attorney-general had filed for judicial review of the findings made by the Coroner's Court in Teoh's death.

The application for the judicial review is scheduled to be heard before judge Mohtarudin Baki at the Shah Alam High Court on Feb 17.

On the list of witnesses, Karpal Singh said it would be made known on Monday.

On Jan 26, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin had consented to the setting up of the commission.

It is tasked with investigating the cause of Teoh's death and look into whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission followed proper procedures when questioning Teoh as a witness in its probe into alleged misuse of Selangor government funds.

Also present at the meeting today were lawyer Gobind Singh Deo who is also representing Teoh's family and Teoh's younger sister, Lee Lan.

Teoh, an aide to a Selangor executive councillor, was found dead on the fifth floor landing of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009, after being questioned overnight at the Selangor MACC office on the 14th floor of the building.

On Jan 5, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas returned an open verdict into the death of Teoh.

- Bernama