KUALA LUMPUR: The death of two Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) personnel while in the detention unit at Sungai Wangi, Sitiawan in Perak on Friday has sparked widespread outrage with people calling for justice for the duo.
Netizens who took to social media to comment on the incident said those responsible should be made to pay for loss of lives of the two navy men.
“Punish the murderers accordingly and set it as an example for all to observe and obey the law as well as to respect others,” said Weng Kit, who posted a comment on the New Straits Times Facebook page.
Ahmad Tejuddin Abdul Majeed wrote: “The medical report is final. Any suspected foul play must be investigated and if found to be any acts of brutality, all those involved in at the detention unit must be charged in court.
Romuald Nonis said: “They had families and could anyone do such things to these guys? Get the culprits and send them to the gallows. My deepest condolences to their families and friends.”
Meanwhile, Maurice Ryan Downs said: “It sounded very weird to me when two individuals died at the same time at the same place for seemingly the same reason.
Laura Wong said: “Angry that the thoughtless and cruel acts or some people caused the death of two young and able men. I feel sad for them and their parents. May they rest in peace.”
Another said: “These are the people trained to protect the country and its citizens, but instead they were tortured by own countrymen.”
Some of the netizens also questioned the standard operating procedures at the detention unit and called for a review to the existing procedures.
“Must it torture to toughen a man? Is it an accepted practice in the whole world to heightened one’s endurance level,” said Klissa Siti.
Earlier yesterday, RMN had confirmed that the two died while at the detention unit on Friday.
According to the statement, the two appeared to be exhausted and were vomiting and having breathing difficulties after undergoing physical training according to the (SOP).
The duo then were then given treatment by staff at the unit but were pronounced dead by the paramedics at 3.15pm.
However, post mortem from the Pathology Department of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital revealed that the two sailors- Nik Muhammad Baihaqy Nik Mat, 28, and Muhammad Lailatulman Mohd Sukri, 26, died due to bleeding on the lungs and blunt trauma on soft tissue.
This morning, three RMN personnel, who were on duty on the day of the incident, were remanded for seven days today to assist in an investigation.
Magistrate Nur Shaqira Ibrahim granted a seven-day remand request on the three personnel, aged between 29 and 44, starting from today until Oct 7.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.