The inquest into political aide Teoh Beng Hock started at 9.20am before coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas at the Shah Alam magistrate's court today.
A total of 77 witnesses, including Teoh's fiancee Soh Cher Wei, are expected to be called for the inquest which will proceed for the next 15 days.
Lawyers Karpal Singh, Gobind Singh Deo and Sankara Nair will be watching brief for Teoh's family in the inquest.
The family members arrived for the inquest at about 8.20am while journalists had started gathering as early as 7.30am to register. Some 50 journalists are packed in the courtroom to cover the inquest.
Bar Council chairperson Ragunath Kesavan said that 12 lawyers have been assigned to hold a watching brief as well.
Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16 at Plaza Masalam the morning after he was interviewed for 10 hours by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which has its state office on the 14th floor of the building.
Teoh, who is the political secretary to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, was reported to be a witness in the investigation into the alleged abuse of constituency development funds by several Selangor Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons.
At about 9.40 this mornining, Gobind Singh asked the court for a stay in the proceeding the until cabinet makes a decision whether to widen the power of RCI.
"If government agrees, this inquest will become unnecessary," he said
Gobind also told the inquest that the AG should study the investigation report and only when he can't determine the cause of death, he should call for an inquest.
In his remarks, the lawyer also added that he needs time to look into the post mortem report and asked for a stay so that all documents and reports could be studied in detail.
Also at the inquest was lawyer Malik Imtiaz, representing the Selangor state government, who came out in support of Gobind's request.