The inquiry to look into the conduct of investigations into the Seremban murder case in which the prime suspect is a prominent businessman should be completely independent without involving any members from the Attorney-General's Chambers or the police, an opposition leader said today.

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said that while he welcomed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Rais Yatim's assurance that the inquiry and its findings would be made public, there was concern over the composition of the inquiry with regards to the inclusion of the police and the AG's Chambers.

"There is no lack of eminent Malaysians of impeccable character and integrity to conduct such an inquiry without any involvement of the AG's Chambers and the police," Lim said in a press statement.

He added that should the inquiry be made public, it would not only be a highly educational process for Malaysians on the procedure of police investigations and the bail process but also provide a good lesson to the AG's Chambers and the police on the importance of the maxim, "Justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done" in every aspect of their conduct in the administration of justice.

Exactly who?

Rais announced yesterday that the AG's Chambers would set up an inquiry team to look into the alleged special treatment accorded by the police to the businessman suspected to have shot dead a shop assistant in Seremban last month.

The prominent businessman, the son of a tycoon, allegedly shot Seow Nam Keong, 27, a car accessories shop worker, in the neck over a parking dispute in front of a pub in Taman Thivy Jaya, Rasah, on Jan 14.

Although the offence is a non-bailable one, he was granted police bail of RM100,000 with two sureties at the Magistrate's Court on Jan 27. His bail was twice extended for seven days each time.

Rais said that the investigation included evaluating the procedure of the police investigation, exactly who had approved the bail, why the bail was granted, and the decision-making process regarding this in the AG's chambers.