Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government however had not dismissed the idea altogether.
“But it must be of benefit to the people to know the facts and the truth,” he said in a recording obtained by FMT.
He was speaking after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting here earlier today.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had recently said the government was willing to consider an RCI into the Memali incident, which took place on Nov 19, 1985.
The incident saw a massive police siege on a village in Baling, Kedah, which ended in 14 residents and four police officers being killed.
Violence erupted when hundreds of villagers put up barricades in an attempt to stop preacher Ibrahim Mahmud, also known as Ibrahim Libya, from being arrested under the now repealed Internal Security Act (ISA) for alleged deviant teachings.
Najib said a decision on the establishment of an RCI would be made when the time was right.
Earlier today, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was prime minister at the time of the incident, said he was prepared to face any inquiry into the tragedy as he had evidence on the matter.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman said he was prepared to hand over the evidence to an RCI if one was formed.
“I welcome an RCI on the tragedy as we need to get to the truth. I will hand over the evidence,” he said.