Higher Education Ministry views Zulfarhan’s death seriously
KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is very concerned and views seriously, the circumstances leading to the death of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) student, cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain.
The 21-year-old undergraduate who passed away at Serdang Hospital on Thursday is believed to have been physically abused.
The ministry and UPNM will cooperate with the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Police in the investigation.
In a statement, the ministry also said UPNM rendered compassionate aid and logistic assistance in the funeral for Zulfarhan Osman whose remains were escorted by other UPNM students to Kampung Kurnia cemetery in Jalan Kebun Teh, Johor Baharu on Friday night.
“The ministry expresses its deepest condolences to his family and may they have strength to face their bereavement in this holy month,” it said.
Police are investigating Zulfarhan Osman’s death as a murder case, following which, 36 students of UPNM and Universiti Tenaga Nasional have been remanded for seven days from yesterday.
Meanwhile, Zulfahan Osman’s mother said he had told her to take care of herself. Hawa Osman said Zulfarhan Osman, who was the eldest of four siblings gave her the advice when he telephoned to say he was unable to return home to celebrate Ramadan.
“At that time, he sounded unwell but said he was fine and told me to take care of myself,” she said when met at the Kebun Teh Muslim Cemetery here on Friday night.
Hawa, 54, who is an administration assistant at Sekolah Menengah Aminudin Baki here said the UPNM student did not show signs of anything amiss before the fateful day. According to her, she last met her son about three weeks ago at a relative’’s wedding. — Bernama