A SPECIAL committee has been formed to look into the death of Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, a 22-year-old Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) cadet who died during training in Ulu Tiram, Johor, last month, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic).
He said he met with Syamsul Haris’ mother, who appointed a lawyer to request the Attorney General’s Chambers to investigate her son’s death.
“A special committee has been formed at the Defence Ministry level, which includes the Home and Health ministries, to ensure that ... a complete report is prepared urgently,” he told Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) who asked about the status of the case.
Syamsul Haris, who was a student at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, died while training at the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram on July 28.
Johor police said an autopsy found no signs of criminal injury, but the deceased’s mother publicly called for an inquiry after finding “mysterious bruises” on her son’s body.
On another matter, Zambry said 31 cases of bullying were reported in eight public universities between 2014 and 2025.
He said that for public universities, students involved in bullying could face disciplinary action under Regulation 3(1)(a)(2) of the Student Disciplinary Rules, which were standardised through amendments in 2024.
“These rules provide for punishments based on the seriousness of the offence, including warnings, community service not exceeding 240 hours, fines of up to RM500, prohibition from entering certain areas of campus, expulsion from student residences, suspension or expulsion from the university,” he said.
