THE Malaysian government should consider setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate in detail over the truth of the content of the video clip which has becoming viral within the country.

For the last few days Malaysian have been exposed with a video clip depicting homosexual sex activity between two individual and one of individual being depicted inside the video clip is said to be one of the country main politician leader.

Due to that, it’s better for the issue being further investigate through RCI which normally be consist of leading experience figures and experts from our legal institution.

Such mode of scandalous revelation is not something new to our country as it has happen in the past and will continue to happen in the future is no serious action taken to deal with it.

Such viral video clip need to be investigated properly and thoroughly so that its authenticity can be certain and further action can be taken based on the result from the authentication process over the viral video clip.

If no proper and thorough investigate is carry out to the viral video clip, our country will suffer politically, socially and economically.

Having RCI will also treat the arising issue as a matter of urgency which must be seriously and immediately dealt by the government.

Such proposed step to create RCI will also strengthen the confident of the public towards the government over the arising issue.

Due to the high level of sensitivity which being portrayed in the content of the video, the public in the country want an immediate answer to the genuineness and truthfulness over its content and this can be done by having a RCI.

RCI are normally been called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy.

These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions.

In Malaysia, RCI has been properly regulated under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 [Act 119].

Section 2 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 [Act 119] also clearly stipulates that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (The King) may, where it appears to him to be expedient so to do, issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners and authorising the Commissioners to inquire into (a) the conduct of any federal officer; (b) the conduct or management of any department of the public service of Malaysia; (c) the conduct or management of any public institution which is not solely maintained by State funds; or (d) any other matter in which an enquiry would, in the opinion of the Duli Yang Maha Muli Yang di-Pertuan Agong (The King), be for the “public welfare”.

The results of Royal Commissions of Inquiry are often published in reports, often massive, of findings containing policy recommendations.

Setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry is not something new in our country as we have done it many time in past since gaining our independence for example Royal Commission on Salaries and Conditions of Service of the Public Service 1965, Royal Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia 1968, Royal Commission on the Teaching Services 1971, Royal Commission of Inquiry on the collapse of the upper deck of the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth 1988, Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate a fire at Sekolah Agama Rakyat Taufikah al-Halimah in Padang Lumat, Yan, Kedah 1989, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the fire at the Bright Sparklers factory in Sungai Buloh New Village 1991, Royal Commission to investigate alleged injuries suffered by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody 1999, Royal Commission for Police Reform 2004, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip 2007, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Teoh Beng Hock case 2010, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah 2012, and very recently the Royal Commission of Inquiry into BNM forex losses as well as the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Wang Kelian mass grave.

* Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow is Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Syariah & Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.