OCTOBER 3 — A PhD viva voce — an oral examination where researchers defend their dissertations before an assessment panel, as various questions are raised by committee members.
That’s how Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan described his first appearance before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which began formal proceedings on September 15, 2026, to review the implementation of recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH).
The proceedings before the PAC may be likened to a viva voce by Dr Zulkifli, but the proceedings before the RCI is an inquiry — an investigation into LTH’s management and operation issues from 2014 to 2020.
Now, lest we forget the RCI is established under an Act of Parliament called Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (Revised 1973) (Act 119) which makes provisions for the holding of commissions of enquiry.
The word is “enquiry” and not “inquiry”.
Yet the Commission is commonly referred to as the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) and not the Royal Commission of Enquiry (RCE).
Under Section 2(1) of the Act, commissioners are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong authorising the commissioners to “enquire” into the matters set out in paragraphs (a) – (d).
The word is “enquire” and not “inquire”.
Neither word is defined under the law.
According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, in British English people sometimes distinguish between enquire and inquire, using enquire for the general meaning of "ask for information" and inquire for the more particular meaning of "officially investigate". For examples:
“I called to enquire about train times.”
“A committee will inquire into the allegations.”
However, you can use either spelling in either meaning. In American English inquire is usually used in both meanings. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/enquire
In simple words, to enquire is to inquire.
That explains why all Commissions established under the Act have proceeded to inquire — that is, investigate. Thus befitting its name: Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
And lest we forget, the Bahasa Melayu word for “enquiry” is “penyiasatan” as in Article 10(1) of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution.
The English words in Article 10(1) are “full and complete enquiry”. In the Jawi script, the words are “sepenuh-penuh dan secukup-cukup penyiasatan”.
So, again, to enquire is to inquire (investigate).
That enquire and inquire are different is a fallacy.
*This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail
