Sungai siput: The investigation into the death of a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Reserve Officer Training Unit (PALAPES) cadet last Monday during training will be conducted comprehensively to ensure justice for all parties involved, including the victim’s family, the university, and higher education institutions. Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari stated the ministry is dedicated to reviewing all aspects of the incident, with a particular focus on participant safety and health.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Deputy Defence Minister remarked that all relevant factors would be scrutinised to identify areas for improvement and to prevent future negligence. This assurance came during his address to reporters after opening the Sungai Siput Veteran Desa MADANI (VDM) programme. Prior, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had announced the formation of a special committee tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the cadet’s death, which occurred at the Ulu Tiram Army Combat Training Centre (PULADA).
Adly also mentioned the ministry’s full cooperation with the police in the official investigation. He stressed that the ministry takes the matter seriously and will not tolerate any misconduct, including bullying, negligence leading to injuries, or any criminal elements, if proven to have occurred. He stated that any individual found guilty of such offences would face disciplinary actions from the ministry and possible legal action by relevant authorities.
Furthermore, Adly highlighted the ministry’s commitment to prioritising participant health in military training programmes, emphasizing the necessity of transparent and accurate health assessments. He explained that thorough health screenings are essential due to the physically demanding nature of military training. Participants with health concerns should not be placed at unnecessary risk, as evidenced by the practices of the former National Service Training Programme (PLKN), where participants not meeting health criteria were exempted from training.