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THE Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has deferred to the police to carry out a full investigation into the tragic death of Private Muhammad Muqriz Aseri, a soldier stationed at the Sri Miri Camp in Sarawak.
The incident occurred on Monday.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin expressed the ministry’s commitment to cooperating fully with the authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.
“We do not tolerate such immoral acts, and once the investigation is complete, we will review how this incident occurred to ensure it does not happen again,” said Mohamed Khaled during the 2024 LTAT Dividend Announcement ceremony today.
He added that it was essential to wait for the investigation to reach its conclusion before releasing any further details, to prevent the spread of misinformation or confusion.
"It is best to wait for the probe to be fully completed before sharing any details to avoid misinformation or confusion," he emphasised.
The minister also cautioned the public against drawing any comparisons between this incident and a previous case at the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).
He described this as a rare and isolated occurrence, noting that the military recruits approximately 5,000 new soldiers each year.
“This incident is an isolated case. It is too early to determine if elements of abuse were involved, so we should not jump to conclusions,” he added.
On the investigation, Miri district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu confirmed that two military personnel, both privates aged 22 and 24, had been taken into custody to assist with the probe. The pair have been remanded for seven days, until April 2, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which covers murder.
According to the Malaysian Army, Muhammad Muqriz, a member of the 20th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, died from blunt trauma to the chest, which led to damage to his heart. The circumstances surrounding his death are under active investigation by the police. - March 27, 2025