With new AG, Adib's father hopes for justice to be served

Father of deceased firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim is hoping that the appointment of Idrus Harun as the new attorney-general would finally result in justice being served over his son's death during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple riots two years ago.

Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, 65, said he would remain unhappy until the perpetrators have been arrested, as he hoped that the new government would be unlike the previous administration.

"After the Coroner's Court ruled on Sept 27 last year that Adib's death was due to a criminal act, we waited for the authorities to take further action but there has been no development.

"The case just went quiet. We were hoping that the police would carry out their duties to nab the suspects," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

"Don't be like in the past. The government has changed and there's a new attorney-general, let there be a new path for justice," he said.

On Sept 27, Coroner Rofiah Mohamad ruled that Adib's death was the result of a criminal act, and also the failure of the police to act at the time of the incident.

Rofiah had said the court concluded that the blunt chest trauma sustained by Adib during the incident was not self-inflicted or due to an accident, but was caused by two to three unidentified persons who pulled the victim out of the fire department EMRS van, hitting him and dragging him.

Adib sustained severe injuries while on duty to put out a fire during the riots on Nov 26, 2018, in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, and passed away on Dec 17 at the National Heart Institute.

Without mentioning any names, Mohd Kassim claimed that the previous administration appeared to be covering up the truth.

"As parents, my wife and I never stopped praying for our son's case to receive justice... I am confident that all Malaysians are also hoping for the truth.

"It's just that the previous administration tried to cover-up the truth, although Malaysians can follow proceedings of the case," he said.

"I thank all parties who helped us, particularly lawyers who offered their services pro-bono.

"I was made to understand that lawyers for my family is in the process of filing a suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas at the Shah Alam High Court on Tuesday," he added.

Throughout the inquest proceedings, various groups had come forward to demand justice for Adib, particularly as there have been no further arrests despite the coroner's ruling.

The inquest was ordered following two conflicting versions over Adib's death.