Lawyer Tun Laila Rafaee, representing Amir Rusyaidi Zaidi’s family, said her clients also want the investigation into the trainee’s death to be reopened, Berita Harian reported.

“They are deeply distressed that no post-mortem was conducted before he was buried on Nov 13 last year.

“We will file an application with the Shah Alam High Court on Monday to request the exhumation of Amir’s remains for a post-mortem and to seek an inquest to determine the true cause of death,” she told a press conference at Masjid Rahmaniah in Banting, Selangor.

Also present were Amir’s parents, Zaidi Abdul Rahman and Azwati @ Azziaton Ghalip.

Tun Laila said the family lodged three police reports – on Nov 15 and Nov 22 last year, as well as July 10 this year to demand a transparent investigation.

She said the family was initially informed that Amir’s death was caused by heat stroke but later were told that he also had multiple organ failure.

Another lawyer for the family, Nur Aminahtul Mardiah Nor, claimed there were discrepancies in statements issued by the Selangor police, which said a post-mortem had already been conducted and that the case had been classified as sudden death.

“That statement is misleading because no post-mortem was ever carried out. The public was led to believe the case was closed since police investigations concluded there was no criminal element. That is unjust to the family.

“They were never informed and no request for consent to do a post-mortem was sought. We are now pressing for this to be done to ensure a proper resolution,” she said.

It had been reported that Amir fainted on Nov 10 while taking part in a training session on the parade grounds. He was taken to the Shah Alam Hospital and died three days later.

His father had filed a police report claiming that Amir was stepped on the chest, forced to act like a horse with a trainer on his back, and also ordered to hop like a kangaroo.

He claimed these actions were recorded on video by the trainer, and that Amir collapsed after the session and remained in a coma until he died.

However, then Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said there was no foul play involved in Amir’s death, adding that the 25-year-old had died from heat stroke.

Hussein said prosecutors determined that no offence had been committed after reviewing the investigation paper, which included statements by 64 people. Thus, the case was closed.

Possible negligence?

Aminahtul claimed that Amir was left unattended for about 20 minutes after collapsing on the parade ground under scorching heat, and then left for another 30 minutes before being sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.

“It was due to excessive physical exercise – an extreme act carried out during training,” she said, adding that the family believed there were also elements of bullying and abuse.

“We have also spoken to several eyewitnesses who confirmed these incidents took place during the training session,” she said.

Civil action

She also said the family would pursue civil action, naming the instructor in charge as the first respondent, followed by the government, the police, UiTM, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, and the hospital.

“We have already gathered statements from 57 individuals, including fellow cadets, seniors, and others who were present during the incident,” the lawyer said.

Following Amir’s death, UiTM reviewed and tightened its procedures and monitoring mechanisms for uniformed body co-curricular activities.