APRIL 26 — There were high hopes when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was formed on January 1, 2009. It took over from the much-maligned and toothless Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) that failed for lack of laws and willpower in the war against graft.

Those hopes for the MACC died the same day Teoh Beng Hock fell to his death on July 16, 2009.

The 30-year-old was taken as a witness on July 15, 2009 against his employer, Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, who allegedly abused state funds amounting to RM2,400.

But the DAP aide was found dead after overnight investigation. His bride-to-be is now left with a fatherless child. His parents and siblings are missing a kin.

And Malaysians are left wondering how it all happened. One death in the war against corruption?

But today, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) found out that the MACC had failed to find evidence that Ean Yong had ever abused state funds.

“Results from investigations showed there was no testimony that could link YB Ean to wrongdoing under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009,” said Ahmad Shafik Abdul Rahman at the inquiry today.

“The investigation outcome showed that programmes and projects, for which YB Ean made claims, were done by contractors... instructions from the DPP were to stop the investigation because there was no testimony showing that YB Ean had committed an offence,” he added.

So, why did Teoh have to die? Was his death in vain?

The inquest into Teoh’s death returned an open verdict of it being neither suicide or homicide. At this point, it doesn’t matter if the RCI can find out anything different from the inquest because the inquiry has shown that the investigation against Ean Yong appeared to be political.

It didn’t appear to be based on facts or evidence. So, why did Teoh have to die if there was nothing anyway in the probe against Ean Yong?

No one knows but it has left blood on the hands of the MACC. After all, no one has ever died in an ACA investigation. Ever.