Seputeh MP wants defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to look into a reported claim that bullying, oral sex and sodomy are a norm at UPNM.
PETALING JAYA: Teresa Kok has called on Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to carry out a probe on allegations that bullying, oral sex and sodomy are common occurrences in the Malaysian National Defence University (UPNM).
The DAP vice-chairperson expressed concern at a report that the ragging culture among military personnel has been practised since the British colonial period till today to teach soldiers subservience and obedience to their leaders.
Referring to the report in the Malaysia Gazette on June 5, she said a source quoted by the portal had indicated that the vile “tradition” had resulted in the recent death of UPNM cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain.
She said what was more shocking was that the source, said to be a former lecturer, claimed to have heard complaints and cases involving sodomy, oral sex and beatings during his tenure at the university.
“What the former lecturer revealed must be fully investigated,” Kok, who is Seputeh MP, said in a statement today.
“I therefore call on Datuk Hishammuddin to carry out a full probe on the allegations that bullying, oral sex and sodomy are a norm at UPNM.”
Zulfarhan, 21, was pronounced dead at Serdang Hospital on June 1 after he was sent there by several friends with 80% of his body covered in bruises and burn marks.
He had been allegedly bound and beaten because of a dispute over a laptop, and reportedly tortured with a belt, rubber hose, iron and hanger by his university mates on May 20 and 21.
Police detained 36 students from two public universities to assist in investigations that very night.
Selangor CID chief SAC Fadzil Ahmat reportedly said 32 of them were from UPNM and four from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), all aged between 20 and 21.
The investigations are being carried out under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
“Malaysians are now asking how the physical assault on Zulfarhan could take place and go unnoticed,” Kok said.
“Many Malaysians simply could not believe that such a tragedy and violence could take place in a university,” she added.
On June 8, Hishammuddin announced the setting up of a special unit to report directly to him on matters relating to Zulfarhan’s death.
He said the unit, led by Armed Forces chief Gen Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Nor, would be an addition to the board of inquiry established earlier, as well as the ongoing police investigation.