KOTA KINABALU: The family of the 17-year-old boy killed during a fight with dormitory mates at a vocational college in Lahad Datu on Friday (March 22) are in a state of disbelief and shock.
The grieving family members who were outside the Lahad Datu district hospital's Forensics Department, however, told reporters Saturday (March 23) that they were not prepared to make any statement at the moment.
A family member said that they were still trying to understand the events leading to the death of Mohammad Nazmie Aizzat Muhd Narul Azwan.
"For now, we are not issuing any statement, hope you understand," a family member told reporters briefly outside the hospital forensic unit.
Mohammad Nazmie was found unconscious on the floor at the dormitory by the warden at about 6.50am on Friday (Mar 22). He was declared dead at the scene by a medical team after the college alerted the police about the incident.
Lahad Datu district police chief Asst Comm Dr Rohan Shah Ahmad said there were injuries and bruises on the victim’s body.
He said police believed that there was a fight between the victim and other students following a misunderstanding that could have been triggered over a smartphone charger.
He said 13 students aged between 16 and 19 years, were arrested to facilitate investigations while a smartphone charger was confiscated.
ACP Rohan urged the public not to speculate and said that they were looking at the case from all angles. The case has been classified as murder.
In a statement in Kuala Lumpur, the Education Ministry said that they would fully cooperate with the police investigation on the death of the boy.
The ministry also said they would not compromise with any bullying in all educational institutions under its management.
The ministry said that they had channelled welfare aid to the victims' families while also putting place necessary psychological support for the family of the victim as well for other students, teachers and its college staff.
The statement extended their condolences to the family of Muhd Nazmie.
"The Education Ministry calls on all parties to respect the privacy of the victim's family," the statement said.
