The Malaysians for Beng Hock movement strongly opposes attempts by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock's death to probe the deceased's "state of mind" prior to his death.

The group argued that interviewing anyone, other than Teoh himself, would result in information that cannot be cross-referenced or tested against the deceased.

The established standard in the United States, the movement pointed out, is that third party information on mental health should be treated as nothing more than hearsay.

NONE "Regardless of the professional views of those in law or psychiatry, we feel that since Teoh has died, it will be inaccurate, and useless, to evaluate his state of mind from third party information.

"Most worrying is that the interviews could be twisted and manipulated by irresponsible parties," the group's coordinator Chong Kok Siong said.

Chong argued that the RCI appeared to be inclined to probing a suicide angle and disinclined about looking at the possibility of homicide or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) procedures for Teoh's death.

"We question why the RCI chairperson is unjustifiably and unconventionally interested in the psychiatric examination, which overlooks other important clues on the possibility of homicide.

"For example why did the MACC officers submit their handphones to the police only after one week? Why was MACC Selangor deputy chief Hishammudin Hasim's handphone submitted to the police only after about two weeks?

"How did all the data in the MACC officers' handphones on the date of tragedy disappear? Pathologist Dr Shahidan Md Noor overturned all his statements in the inquest, and the MACC refused to present all investigation documents relevant to the case," said Chong.

The RCI plans to call a psychiatrist to interview witnesses, such as Teoh's family members, to establish his "state of mind" prior to his death on July 16, 2009.