ALOR STAR: The family of a suspected drug addict in Langkawi is demanding for justice over his death after the man was allegedly assaulted by policemen during an arrest on Monday.
In a Facebook posting, Salwana Salleh, sister of the deceased identified as Mohd Hafiz Salleh said the family is demanding for explanation from the police over the alleged incident captured in a viral video.
Salwana confirmed her brother's death via a Facebook posting on Friday.
She said the body had been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star for a postmortem before being taken back to Langkawi for funeral.
"Pray for my brother, pray for justice, we seek justice as Malaysians who live in a country with laws. Let's pray for that God ease us in all matters," she said.
Another Facebook user, Putera Aizo, said that the deceased died last Thursday after two days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi.
Describing the incident, he claimed the incident occurred at a petrol station during an arrest by the Langkawi Narcotics Investigation Division on Jan 29.
"After a scuffle between the victim and police, he sustained severe head and other injuries, leading to an admission into the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).
"After two days in the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on Feb 1. He was laid to rest in his hometown at Kampung Ewa, Langkawi," he added.
In the video, a group of at least seven policemen in plainclothes were seen using force while arresting a man believed to Mohd Hafiz.
One of them was seen kicking the man's back before them handcuffed him and took him away.
In the later part of the video, Mohd Hafiz was warded in the ICU before he succumbed to injuries two days later.
The NST has reached out to Langkawi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shariman Ashari for comment but has not received any feedback as of yet.