Prime Minister Najib Razak’s revision of the terms of reference for the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the custodial death of Teoh Beng Hock is to be applauded.

It shows the PM is willing to listen to the majority of the people and review any decision that fell short of public expectations.

I was among the many who was shocked by the coroner’s open verdict that ruled out both suicide and homicide in the death of Teoh.

I was also equally bewildered when PM Najib announced in early January the setting up of a RCI with the sole purpose of looking into whether the MACC had breached Teoh’s rights while conducting investigations, and not looked into the causes and circumstances of his death.

I have reiterated my call to the government several times for the setting up of a RCI to establish the circumstances that caused or led to the death of Teoh.

Teoh failed to come out alive while under MACC’s custody. His body was found sprawled on a service corridor in Plaza Masalam’s Level 5 on July 16, 2009.

I have said the loss of life, especially while in the custody of government enforcement officials, is always a serious matter of public concern. There cannot be no answers for this particular case. It’s simply not acceptable that one can die in the MACC’s custody without knowing what had happened.

No matter from which point of view or political divide you see the death, it is just unbelievable, unacceptable and illogical that no one knows what happened to Teoh in a place where security is relatively tight.

I had supported Teoh’s family members’ demand for a RCI to determine who was/were responsible for the death when I was MCA president. I am, therefore, delighted that our prime minister has decided to agree with the public view that the RCI’s terms of reference should include establishing the causes and circumstances that led to the loss of life.

It is expected that there will still be many who will continue to question the sincerity of the setting up of the RCI.

Let us not be prematurely judgmental. Let the RCI members conduct their inquiry and we can then form our informed and fair views in due course.

The writer is Pandan MP.