s 9 Duties and powers of Inquiry Officers
(1) When any person is brought before an Inquiry Officer under section 6 the Inquiry Officer shall inquire and report in writing to the Minister whether there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person is a member of any of the registrable categories. (2) An inquiry held under subsection (1) shall be held in such manner and in accordance with such procedure as the Minister may direct. (3) An Inquiry Officer may, for the purpose of any inquiry under this Act— (a) procure and receive all such evidence, whether oral or in writing and whether the same be admissible or not under any written law for the time being in force relating to evidence or criminal procedure, which he may think necessary or desirable; (b) summon and examine witnesses on oath or affirmation, and may for those purposes administer any oath or affirmation; (c) require the production of any document or other thing in his opinion relevant to the inquiry; (d) if he considers it necessary in the public interest, receive evidence in the absence of the person who is the subject of the inquiry: Provided that where any such evidence is received the Inquiry Officer shall communicate to the person the substance of the evidence, so far as he may consider it compatible with the public interest so to do, and shall in every such case include in any report made under subsection 10(2) a statement of the circumstances in which the evidence was received. (4) Any person summoned as a witness under subsection (3) who without reasonable excuse fails to attend at the time and place mentioned in the summons or who, having attended, refuses to answer any question that may lawfully be put to him or to produce any document or thing which it is in his power to produce, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit or to both.