AHEAD of the inquest tomorrow, the family of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim hopes there will be no cover-up in the events leading to his death.

Adib’s father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, told The Malaysian Insight that all the family wanted was for the truth to come out.

“I hope we will know the truth behind the incident. We hope there will be no cover-ups and those responsible for my son’s death will be brought to justice,” Kassim told The Malaysian Insight.

Adib was the only fatality when riots broke out outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor in November.

Police investigations revealed that there could be two possibilities on what caused the 24-year-old’s death – he was beaten by a mob or he was run over by a fire truck.

The inquest, set to take place for 30 working days from tomorrow (Monday), will be held at the Shah Alam coroners’ court.

Kassim said Adib’s elder brother will be present for the early stages of the inquest.

“It is not the time yet for me to come to the inquest. But whatever it is, the whole family just want to know the truth,” he said.

“The family is praying that the inquest will go on smoothly,  and of course, as a father I was sad (about the death), but we managed to stay strong.”

The inquest will be led by deputy public prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah, who will call six expert witnesses, including doctors who attended to Adib’s injuries and a forensics specialist, who carried out the post-mortem.

Adib’s family will be represented by lawyer Yahya Othman while Syazlin Othman will hold a watching brief for the Housing and Local Government Ministry. Lawyer-cum-activist Siti Kassim will be holding a watching brief for the temple committee while Cyrus Tiu Foo Woei will represent the the Bar Council.

Kedah-born Adib was the sole fatality in the riots that erupted after intruders stormed the Hindu temple on November 26.

Adib was one of nine responders in the Subang Jaya Emergency Medical Rescue Services unit deployed to the scene after a mob set fire to several vehicles.

He was found lying unconscious on the road by passers-by who took him to the Ramsay Sime Darby Medical Centre.

Despite regaining consciousness later and showing some signs of recovery, Adib’s lung functions deteriorated and he succumbed to the injuries on December 17, three weeks after he was hospitalised. – February 10, 2019.