Ministry considering system review at UPNM following cadet death

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the ministry is tudying the need to review the education system in Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).

He said this is following the death of 21-year-old final year navy cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain.

"I am serious. I want to see UPNM and the military academy there to be responsible. We need to see, if there is a need to review the system, then we will," he said at a press conference here today.

"They cannot simply wash their hands off. We don't want his death to be in vain," he said.

Zulfarhan died at the Serdang Hospital on June 1 after he was allegedly abused over a laptop theft on May 22.

Following the case, the 13 students, all aged 21, were brought to court on June 14 to face charges under Section 330 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 which provides for a jail term of seven years and liable to be fined, upon conviction.

Five other UPNM students were charged with murdering the victim. They face the mandatory death sentence if convicted.

On Friday, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said all the 13 students who were released on bail until the re-mention of the case will be allowed to resume their studies at the university.

READ: 13 UPNM students allowed to resume studies

He said the decision was made by UPNM to give the students the opportunity to continue their courses until the court made a decision on the charges against them.