COMMENT The royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah and its terms of reference as announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak could well open up a Pandora's box that could entangle a host of luminaries.

The composition of the RCI is not very encouraging as most of its five members are former and current government flunkeys, but in selecting former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim as its chair, the PM has obtained for it a semblance of credibility enough to warrant interest in its proceedings.

Of course, those proceedings would be hollow if the RCI does not call up former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad to testify...