KUALA LUMPUR: An independent and transparent investigation is urgently needed into the death of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Reserve Officers' Training Unit (Palapes) cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, says Klang MP V. Ganabatirau.
He said the main concern is the lack of transparency in the initial autopsy, which did not involve a certified forensic expert and offered limited access to the family regarding the report.
"The case is not only about seeking justice for the late cadet and his family but also concerns the integrity of our institutions and public confidence in the justice system.
"This severely affects public trust in the existing process," Ganabatirau told a press conference at Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 27).
Syamsul’s mother Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun and other family members accompanied the Klang MP.
Earlier, police announced that Bukit Aman’s Classified Criminal Investigation Unit (USJT) had taken over the probe.
Its director Datuk M. Kumar said the move followed the Shah Alam High Court’s decision on Tuesday (Aug 26) allowing the family's application to exhume the remains and conduct a second post-mortem.
On behalf of the family, Ganabatirau requested an independent and qualified forensic expert carry out the second autopsy, with observation rights granted to the family as appropriate.
"The initial verbal report stated that the cause of death was a seizure, but upon further examination, the family discovered bruising around the eyes, injuries on the chest, and severe bleeding from the nose and neck, raising serious doubts and suspicion of possible foul play, accident or criminal elements," he said.
"We also call for a thorough, independent, transparent probe by a special investigative team, which should include all witness statements, physical evidence from the scene, medical records, training logs, and relevant standard operating procedures," said Ganabatirau.
The family urged for the immediate preservation of all evidence, including audio or video recordings, CCTV footage, communications logs, attendance records, medical records, and training equipment used.
He welcomed the cooperation of all parties involved, including the police, Defence Ministry, Home Ministry, and other agencies, to ensure the truth is uncovered.
On August 19, Syamsul Haris’s mother applied for the exhumation and proposed that an inquest be held.
The 22-year-old victim from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia died while training at the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram on July 28.
