PALAPES Cadet's Death: Wait For Second Post-Mortem Results, Don't Speculate – Defence Minister

SERDANG, Sept 4 (Bernama) – All parties should await the results of the second post-mortem on Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin and avoid making any speculation, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said that the armed forces had questioned more than 30 individuals, including instructors and other trainees, to determine if there were elements of foul play in the death of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Palapes cadet.

According to him, preliminary investigations found no evidence of physical abuse, noting that the deceased did not stay overnight during training at the Combat Inoculation Shooting Range, Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor.

“He commuted daily from the university throughout the training. The training was also conducted in an open field together with other cadets.

“If there had been any unusual rough treatment, surely the other cadets would have taken photos and so on,” he told reporters after delivering the Defence Minister’s Executive Lecture at Universiti Putra Malaysia here today.

Syamsul Haris, 22, died at Kota Tinggi Hospital on July 28 after undergoing training and was buried at Kampung Rinching Ulu Muslim Cemetery, Semenyih, the following day.

On Aug 26, the Shah Alam High Court ordered the exhumation of his body following an application by his mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, on Aug 19 for a second post-mortem and an inquest.

The second post-mortem was carried out last Saturday, and the remains were reburied at Kampung Rinching Ulu Muslim Cemetery at 6.09 pm the same day.

Earlier, Mohamed Khaled had delivered the lecture to 1,927 Palapes cadets from 20 public universities nationwide who are scheduled to receive their Palapes Cadet Officer Commissions on Sept 13.

Among the topics he highlighted were the spirit of independence, future challenges of the defence industry, the nation’s role in addressing international conflicts, and the contribution of Palapes cadets to national defence and society.

Also present were Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim  Ali, Chief of Navy Admiral Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain and Air Force Chief Gen Datuk Seri  Muhamad Norazlan bin Aris.

– BERNAMA