THE family lawyer representing the late Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) cadet officer Syamsul Haris Shamsudin is pressing health authorities for an explanation over the involvement of a Kota Tinggi Hospital doctor in conducting the post-mortem, despite a clear request from the deceased’s mother for a forensic expert to lead the procedure.
Datuk Naran Singh said he has yet to receive a response after sending three formal letters last week and earlier this week to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the Director of Kota Tinggi Hospital, and a forensic specialist at Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru.
“I have formally written to the Director of Kota Tinggi Hospital and, at the same time, to the forensic specialist at Sultan Ismail Hospital to clarify who authorised the doctor from Kota Tinggi to carry out the post-mortem at Sultan Ismail,” he told reporters today. “To this day, there has been no response. So, I wrote to the Health Minister two days ago and am still awaiting a reply.
“Why did a medical officer from Kota Tinggi Hospital conduct the post-mortem at Sultan Ismail Hospital when a forensic specialist was available there? This remains a question that needs an answer.”
Naran made the statement following a High Court proceeding concerning a temporary injunction sought against the Defence Minister from making public statements regarding Syamsul Haris’s death.
The 22-year-old died at Kota Tinggi Hospital on 28 July, following military training at the Army Combat Training Centre (PULADA) in Ulu Tiram, Johor. He was buried the following day in Semenyih, Selangor.
During the court session, Naran informed the court that the application for the interim gag order against Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Ministry of Defence had been withdrawn.
The decision came after the ministry and the minister issued a written undertaking not to make any public comments about the case while the police investigation is ongoing.
“This morning, I received a letter clearly stating that the respondents — Mohamed Khaled and the Ministry — have pledged to the applicant, Ummu Haiman (Syamsul Haris’s mother), that no statements or comments will be made in any form of media until the investigation concludes,” he said. “That is the assurance we had sought.”
Senior Federal Counsels Roziza Sidek and Nor Asma Ahmad, representing the respondents, recorded their appreciation to the applicant for the resolution.
High Court Judge Adlin Abdul Majid acknowledged the undertaking and allowed the withdrawal of the interim injunction application.
The initial court order was granted on 18 September, following an application filed on 9 September by Ummu Haiman, naming Mohamed Khaled as the respondent.
Meanwhile, Naran confirmed that the family is still awaiting the second autopsy report, which was conducted at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on 30 August. The report is expected within three months. - September 26, 2025
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