Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today urged the public to remain calm and not overreact to the controversial death of Teoh Beng Hock in Shah Alam yesterday.

NONE He also brushed off suggestions by Pakatan Rakyat leaders for the government to set up a royal commission to investigate the matter.

According to him, the police were already probing the incident.

"I know the police force will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation as we would not want anybody to cover up the truth," he told reporters in Putrajaya.

Teoh's body was found sprawled on the roof of an adjacent building after he was grilled by Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers into the wee hours of the morning at the commission's Selangor office in Shah Alam.

NONE The 30-year-old former journalist was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hean Wah.

Teoh was brought in to the MACC office for questioning on Wednesday evening over investigations into alleged misappropriation of funds by his boss

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also dismissed suggestions that the incident has tarnished the image of MACC.

NONE He however said the police have the authority to call in MACC officers and other witnesses to assist in the investigation.

"If the police want to investigate any of these people, that is their right to do so, and we have nothing against it," he said.

Police just doing their job

The deputy premier also defended the police's action in arresting several people involved in a protest staged outside the MACC office this morning.

NONE Muhyiddin said the police were acting within their powers.

"If the police said no (to gatherings), then they (the protesters) should not go ahead with it. If they want to, they should seek a police permit. So, don't blame the police when they do their job," he said.

The deputy premier also advised the public to be rational and not hurl accusations at anyone as this would only create more misunderstandings.

"We should not make any judgements as we do not know what actually happened. We can't point fingers at anybody as this is still under police investigation," he said.

"I believe the police will be hands on (in this case) and leave no stone unturned...(because) we would also like to know the real thing behind it (the death)," he added.

NONE Earlier today, about 300 protesters had gathered outside the MACC office in Shah Alam demanding that MACC be investigated for Teoh's death.

Within 10 minutes, Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel began dispersing the crowd and a scuffle broke out.

At least seven protesters were arrested in the melee. They included Kapar parliamentarian S Manikavasagam and Selangor exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar.