“The investigation must be continued until the truth comes to light as the case is of public interest,” Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a Facebook post this evening.

Zahid added that the party never forgot Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death and will always demand for justice to be upheld.

The party, he added, stood by the findings of a coroner’s court that Adib’s death was the result of a crime committed by more than two or more unknown persons.

Since then, Zahid said, the party is of the view that the authorities should be given time and space to probe the matter.

“Hence, the statement by a minister that Adib’s case would be closed temporarily is extremely depressing.”

Plantation industries and commodities minister Zuraida Kamaruddin was reported to have said last Saturday that Adib’s case would be closed for now.

Zuraida was the housing and local government minister in the Pakatan Harapan administration at the time of the incident and held the same portfolio in the subsequent Perikatan Nasional-led government.

The fire and rescue department comes under the housing and local government ministry.

Adib, 24, a member of the emergency medical rescue services unit from Subang Jaya fire and rescue station, sustained serious injuries during a riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, on Nov 27, 2018.

He died on Dec 17, 21 days after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in critical condition.

Last December, home minister Hamzah Zainudin was reported as saying that the investigation was in the final stages and the results of the investigation would be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).