SHAH ALAM — Feb. 11, 2019: The inquest to determine the cause of death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd. Kassim during a Hindu temple riot in late November was told that Adib was in an Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) vehicle when a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) vehicle started to reverse after it was attacked by some people.
Medic Ahmad Shahrill Othman, who was also the EMRS driver, testified that when the FRT vehicle reversed, he felt his vehicle being pushed back. At that time, Adib, a member of the EMRS, was seated next to him and they were both still communicating.
“It felt like the FRT vehicle was pushing my vehicle and I said ‘Azim’s too fast’. He (Adib) did not reply though.
“He looked startled and held the dashboard with his right hand and has his left hand on the door of the vehicle,” Shahrill said in reply to deputy public prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah on the opening day today of the inquest.
Adib, 24, was seriously injured during the riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25/Seafield on November 27. He died on December 17 at the National Heart Institute.
Another witness, Md. Elliza Mohd. Noor, an FRT vehicle driver, recalled that he had reversed his vehicle for about 80 metres when it was attacked by rioters.
“There were two vehicles at the back – a Proton Exora taxi and an unidentified car,” said Elliza, who at one point appeared teary-eyed while looking at and flipping through documents and pictures of Adib shown to him.
The inquest before Judge Rofiah Mohamad, who is sitting as the coroner, continues tomorrow with a visit to the scene of the riots. — Bernama
