Call for a RCI into RCIs
APRIL 20 — There have recently been many calls for Royal Commissions of Inquiries (RCIs) by various political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), institutions, individuals, and possibly even aliens, to inquire on diverse subjects.
These include whether a sex video should be allowed to be screened, whether the actors in the video should be identified and incarcerated, whether the award of a contract to process radioactive material should be allowed, and on how much money the Chief Minister of Sarawak has in his and members of his family’s bank accounts.
In addition to the above, there were also calls to royally commission an inquiry on whether there were kickbacks on the purchase of submarines, on how many illegal immigrants are allowed to vote in Sabah, for the murder of an unfortunate foreign national, as well as the death of an Environment Officer.
Previously, there were completed RCIs on the police and whether a lawyer was incorrectly influencing the appointment of judges.
At this present moment, there is an RCI on the death of a political aide two years ago at an MACC building. That is still ongoing, even as someone else has now died at another MACC building.
Now, Malaysia is a sovereign nation, which has laws and regulations. However, it seems clear that those laws and regulations are about as useful as a bicycle is to a fish since just about anything needs to get an RCI to be sorted.
In view of that, we at the Malaysian Institute of Learning Foundation for Political Research On Nationalism (MILF-PRON)* demand that a Royal Commission of Inquiry be set up to inquire on whether we really need all these Royal Commissions of Inquiries.
This RCI for RCIs should be set up to answer, among others, the following questions:
1. If an RCI is needed to probe into every hot-topic issue that crops up in the nation, why do we even bother with having institutions like the judiciary, the law enforcement units and, as a random example, the Public Works Department?
2. Should a new ministry be set up to facilitate the execution of an RCI, possibly called the Ministry of RCI, with its own minister, secretary-general, director-general, directors, deputies, principal assistants, assistants, secretaries, under-secretaries, drivers, clerks and tea ladies?
3. What is the actual difference between a Royal commission and a non-Royal commission?
4. How much tax-payer money is being used for the RCIs?
5. Do the RCIs have any actual legislative or enforcement powers?
6. And what is the correct plural form for Royal Commission of Inquiry?
MILF-PRON insists that our demands be met by the prime minister and the Cabinet immediately, failing which we shall call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the PM and his Cabinet’s refusal to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
After which, we hope to be able to trust that we return to trying to build a sober, rational and lawful nation. With poco poco.
* Our motto for April, 2011: Don’t panic and don’t forget to bring your towel.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
