Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has accused the opposition of using Teoh Beng Hock’s family in order to prolong the issue of his death and exploit it during the coming general election.

"It (The Royal Commission of Inquiry) has been politicised. (The opposition) merely wants to prolong this case, and then use it during the general election. And that is why they are advising Teoh's family.

NONE "(The opposition) just wants to keep on postponing the case to show that the government is not doing anything to help search for the truth for Teoh Beng Hock," Najib ( left ) said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was referring to the decision by Teoh’s family on Wednesday to withdraw on from the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing that is seeking to establish the cause of the political aide’s death.

Teoh’s family walked out of the inquiry after the RCI ruled against their request to have the hearing postponed until the disposal of a judicial review filed by the family against the coroner's 'open verdict' on Teoh's death.

Following this, the Selangor government, which was Teoh’s employer at the time of his death, also followed suit , based on the same reasons given by his family.

'We want to know the truth'

Speaking to reporters after an Islamic Development Department (Jakim) programme in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, Najib reiterated that the government has always been in pursuit of the truth and justice for Teoh.

"We formed this RCI, on the request of the family, as one of the reasons and we ourselves want to find the truth.

"(The Teoh family) should have given a chance to the RCI to fulfil its responsibility because it is made up of people of high standing, who can help in our search for the truth as to what really happened.

"We also want to know the truth and this is something that will help Teoh Beng Hock's family. There has to be a closure and it cannot be prolonged forever," he said.

In defending the RCI’s integrity, Najib said that it was the “best channel to seek the truth and a finality to the case”.

"That is why the RCI was formed in the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It must function and take its course based on the terms of reference as approved by the King," he said.

Najib announced the formation of the RCI on Jan 7 after a coroner's inquest ruled inconclusively on the death of the political aide.

Teoh was found dead on July 16, 2009, the day after an overnight interrogation by Selangor MACC officers at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.