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THE Shah Alam High Court has scheduled 25 August to hear an application from Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, the mother of the late Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, a 22-year-old cadet from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s PALAPES programme, seeking to exhume his remains for a second post-mortem and to initiate inquest proceedings into his death.
The hearing date was fixed by High Court Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preet following a request from the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for more time to complete their affidavits in response to the application.
Federal Counsel Nurul Huda Mohd Salehuddin appeared for the first respondent, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, while Selangor Director of Prosecution Datin Kalmizah Salleh and Deputy Public Prosecutor Allison Chan represented the second respondent, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.
Both legal teams acknowledged the case’s significant public interest but requested additional time to prepare a comprehensive response. The AGC’s representatives noted that coordination was required with the Johor Prosecution Office, as the incident occurred in that state, and consultations were ongoing with forensic pathologists, chemists, and investigating officers.
Counsel for Ummu Haiman, Datuk Seri Naran Singh, urged the court to direct the respondents to file their responses within one week. He also requested access to photographs from the initial post-mortem, calling the matter urgent.
“This is an urgent matter involving the death of a 22-year-old young man. Two weeks is far too long. There are many deputy public prosecutors available – surely the time can be managed,” said Naran, adding that his client was prepared to bear the cost of a second post-mortem, if necessary.
He also requested that the role of forensic pathology consultant Datuk Seri Dr Bhupinder Singh, who has been appointed by the family, be limited to observation only during the proposed second examination.
However, Kalmizah opposed the application for the release of autopsy photographs, arguing that the case remains under active investigation.
Judge Bhupindar Singh ordered both respondents to file their affidavits in reply by this Friday.
Syamsul Haris passed away on 28 July at Kota Tinggi Hospital in Johor while undergoing training at the Combat Immunisation Firing Range, Army Combat Training Centre (PULADA) in Ulu Tiram. He was laid to rest the following day at the Kampung Riching Ulu Muslim Cemetery in Selangor.
In her application, Ummu Haiman named both the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General as respondents, and sought permission for the body to be exhumed for a second autopsy in the presence of her appointed forensic expert, Dr Bhupinder Singh, and her legal counsel.
She is also requesting that Bukit Aman establish a special task force to take over the investigation into her son’s death. - August 19, 2025