THE Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (DAPSY) has expressed grave concern over the recurring reports of student deaths and injuries linked to harsh and potentially dangerous training practices in universities.
This is following the tragic death of Muhammad Amir Rusyaidi Muhammad Zaidi, a UiTM Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU) cadet who died on Nov 13 after allegedly enduring a gruelling, unscheduled training session that involved physical abuse.
The 25-year-old victim was purportedly stepped on the chest, forced to perform horse-like movements with a trainer riding on his back, and ordered to jump like a kangaroo before collapsing.
These activities on Nov 10 were allegedly captured on video by the trainer.
DAPSY national executive council’s deputy international secretary Kusaaliny Mahendran, in pointing out that this is not an isolated incident at UiTM, called for immediate justice for Amir and urged the university to take swift and decisive action.
“The safety and well-being of students must be the utmost priority for the university’s top management,” she stressed.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, including eyewitness accounts and video footage, the university must terminate the officer involved in the incident without delay.
“This individual’s actions were not only reckless but also criminal, and they must face the full consequences of their misconduct.”
To prevent future tragedies, Kusaaliny said UiTM must implement strict monitoring of training programmes to ensure they adhere to safety standards and ethical guidelines and have adequate medical facilities and trained personnel on campus to respond promptly to emergencies.
She said there must also be a transparent reporting mechanism for students to report their concerns and grievances without fear of retaliation as well as regular mental health support services for students.
“We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Amir’s death. All individuals involved, including those who may have contributed to negligence or abuse, must be held accountable,” said Kusaaliny.
“The time for empty promises and half-measures is over. UiTM must act swiftly and decisively to restore public trust and ensure the safety and well-being of all students.”
Multi-organ failure
According to news reports, Amir’s death has been confirmed to be caused by multi-organ failure due to heat stroke.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said preliminary investigations revealed that the 25-year-old victim had been part of the uniformed unit since October and was undergoing a fitness test ahead of basic training scheduled for next year.
On the day of the incident, the victim was allegedly instructed by his coach to perform push-ups as punishment for missing a run and was seen jumping around before collapsing.
The victim was given hydration treatment at Shah Alam Hospital Red Zone Emergency Ward but did not respond positively and suffered from cramps. He was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The victim’s family was only notified of his condition when the hospital called to ask permission to administer breathing aid.
Sadly, the victim died on Nov 13 at 2.01am. The post-mortem showed no external injuries on the body.
The victim’s father, Muhammad Zaidi Abdul Rahman, lodged a police report on Nov 15. Meanwhile, the case has been classified by the police as sudden death. – Nov 28, 2024
