KOTA TINGGI: Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 22-year-old Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) cadet who collapsed during combat training here.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Yusof Othman said police received a report about the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Palapes cadet at about 5.33pm on Monday (July 28).
“Initial investigations revealed that the victim suddenly became disoriented while undergoing Combat Inoculation Training at the Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada) in Kota Tinggi.
“Upon noticing his condition, medical officers from the military clinic rushed him to Kota Tinggi Hospital for further treatment.
“The cadet was later pronounced dead while receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency zone,” he said in a statement here on Friday (Aug 1).
Also read: Single mother demands full probe after suspicious death of student in army training
Supt Yusof said the victim’s body was brought to the Forensic Medicine Department at Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) for a post-mortem examination.
“The autopsy found no signs of criminal injury, and we are still awaiting the results of laboratory tests to determine the cause of death,” he said, adding that the case was initially classified as a sudden death.
“We are conducting a thorough and detailed investigation, including recording statements from witnesses and medical personnel involved, to determine the actual cause of the incident.
“The public is advised not to speculate while awaiting the outcome of the investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, UTM said it would give its fullest cooperation to assist the police in investigating the matter.
“UTM takes this incident very seriously and has fully handed over the matter to the authorities for a thorough investigation.
“The university will extend its full cooperation throughout the course of the investigation,” it said.
It added that the university has reached out to the family of the deceased and is prepared to provide all necessary forms of assistance and support.
“We would like to extend our condolences to the family of the late Syamsul Haris Shamsudin and pray that his soul is blessed and placed among the righteous,” it said.
Earlier, in a press conference in Perak, the victim’s mother reportedly urged the authorities to investigate her son’s death.
She had also lodged a police report alleging possible foul play after discovering injuries on his body.
This is the second Palapes trainee death in the past year, with the death of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student Muhammad Amir Rusyaidi, 26, during a Public University Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) exercise at the Shah Alam campus on Nov 13, 2024.
