I saw attack on fire truck, not firemen being beaten up, police officer tells coroner

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Feb 2019 12:36PM · 3 Comments

The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah court complex in Shah Alam where an inquiry on fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's death is taking place today. Subang Jaya traffic police chief Mohd Nasir Rahman told the court that he did not see any firemen being beaten by a mob that had earlier attacked a fire truck on the night of the riots. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 11, 2019.

A TRAFFIC police officer who was at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple on the night of the riots told an inquest today that he did not see any firemen being beaten by a mob that had earlier attacked a fire truck.

Subang Jaya traffic police chief Mohd Nasir Rahman said the truck was surrounded when he arrived at the scene.

He estimated there were 3,500 to 5,000 people, believed to be Indians, who had gathered in front of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

“After an object was thrown at the fire truck, smashing its front front windscreen, the driver reversed the vehicle. He then went in front, reversing again before leaving the scene,” Nasir told the Shah Alam coroner’s court.

“When the truck reversed, it hit a EMRS vehicle behind it,” he added, referring to the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle.

Nasir said he was standing some 80m to 100m from where both the fire truck and EMRS vehicle were.

“I saw the truck being attacked, but I didn’t see any firemen being beaten up.

“I also did not see any fire personnel exiting the truck and EMRS vehicle.”

Deputy public prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah asked the witness if he could see the back of the fire truck from where he was standing.

“No,” said Nasir, adding the incident occurred for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Nasir said he immediately contacted his command centre on the attack on the fire truck.

“Another officer and I tried to approach the crowd but there was too many people around. We tried to enter the area but due to safety factors and since we were not equipped to handle the matter, we didn’t go in.” – February 11, 2019.

Subang Jaya traffic police chief Mohd Nasir Rahman (left) estimates there were 3,500 to 5,000 people, believed to be Indians, who had gathered in front of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor on the night of the riots. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 11, 2019.

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Comments

  • I wonder if under such such situation can a police officer fire a warning shots?

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • I believe people are also anxious to know if doctors and coroners could come out with a statement on the likely cause of the injuries, to state whether human punches and kicks, or the work of machine could ruptures internal organs to such extent?

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • I also did not see any fire personnel exiting the truck and EMRS vehicle. So, was Adib flung out of the vehicle when the heavy fire truck hit the EMRS vehicle with force? It is common for people in vehicles to get flung out when they collide.

    Posted 7 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply