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THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has issued an interim order barring Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Ministry of Defence from making any public statements regarding the death of PALAPES cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, pending further legal proceedings.
The order was granted on Wednesday by Judge Adlin Abdul Majid after hearing an application filed by the cadet’s mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, on 9 September. The application named Mohamed Khaled as the respondent.
Speaking to the media, Ummu Haiman’s lawyer, Datuk Naran Singh, confirmed that the court granted the interim gag order, which will remain in effect until 26 September, as parties await a formal undertaking from the Minister not to comment on the ongoing case.
"We sought a gag order to prevent the Defence Minister and the Ministry from making any statements about the death of Syamsul Haris on the grounds that investigations are still ongoing," said Naran.
"Today’s hearing was a case management session, also attended by the Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Defence. We’ve reached an agreement that if they issue a letter of undertaking, we will be satisfied. The next case management is scheduled for 26 September to update the court on further developments," he added.
Syamsul Haris, a cadet of the Reserve Officer Training Unit (PALAPES) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), died on 28 July at Kota Tinggi Hospital after participating in exercises at the Combat Inoculation Firing Range, Army Combat Training Centre (PULADA), Ulu Tiram. He was buried in Kampung Rinching Ulu Islamic Cemetery in Semenyih the following day.
On 26 August, the same court ordered that Syamsul Haris's body be exhumed to allow a second post-mortem examination. The order was issued by Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preet following another application by Ummu Haiman.
The court instructed that the exhumation be carried out within 14 days to facilitate the further investigation.
Judge Bhupindar Singh also issued three directives to be followed by the respondents in connection with the case, although details of these orders have not been disclosed publicly.
The death has prompted growing public scrutiny over the safety protocols and medical oversight during military training conducted by PALAPES and the armed forces. - September 18, 2025