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New Straits Times
12-08-2025
- New Straits Times
Army reviews training SOPs following Palapes cadet's death
GEMAS: The army is reviewing its standard operating procedures (SOP) for training, including those for the Reserve Officers' Training Unit (Palapes). Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the SOP include improving the health screening process, which must be more thorough before training begins. "This is because it is a high-risk training involving the use of live ammunition, which aims to test and enhance the resilience, confidence, and courage of the trained personnel and officers. "This (Palapes) training is conducted for 112 participants per session. "Over 20 officers and trainers are assigned to supervise the exercise. "The training is also brief, only taking about 15 minutes," he told reporters after witnessing the 2025 Live Fire Exercise (LKT) at the shooting range in Syed Sirajuddin Camp today. Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari and Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar. Previously, a Palapes cadet from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai, Johor, Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, 22, was reported to have died while undergoing Palapes UTM training at the Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada) in Ulu Tiram, Johor. The cause of death was unclear and uncertain. The second-semester Cyber Security Bachelor's Degree student at UTM, who was the eldest of three siblings, had joined the Palapes UTM training on July 26, which was scheduled to end on Aug 3. Muhammad Hafizuddeain said the findings of the investigation into the trainee's death, conducted by the army investigation committee, would be finalised today and therefore, urged the public not to speculate on the incident. "The incident that befell him is deeply regretted. "Even though it occurred during a planned training session, we are very sad. "Although he was a cadet officer, he was one of us," he said, adding that the training the deceased participated in complied with the established SOP. In other developments, he said the army is always open to any proposals from any party to supply aircraft that meet the specified capabilities and features, especially the Black Hawk helicopter. Regarding the LKT, he said it involved approximately 2,500 personnel from all three branches of the Armed Forces. For the first time, the Johor Military Force (JMF) also participated in the exercise, which aims to enhance professionalism and test doctrines and procedures. He said that this LKT also focused on modern integration, showcasing the acquisition of Flyeye drones or UAS for real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat damage assessment missions. When asked if the LKT was a reaction to the current regional tensions, he said such exercises are to ensure that the army is always at the highest level of readiness to handle any potential threats and protect the country's sovereignty. "We cannot deny that the tensions in this region serve as a wake-up call for all of us that national security should not be taken lightly. "This exercise also serves as a message or warning to any party that tries to disrupt the country's security," he said. Police are conducting a detailed investigation into Syamsul Haris' death at the training centre on July 28.
New Straits Times
04-08-2025
- New Straits Times
Army to review training procedures after UTM Palapes cadet's death
KUALA LUMPUR: The army will review its training procedures to address any shortcomings and prevent a recurrence following the death of a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) cadet. Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the army regretted what had happened to 22-year-old Syamsul Haris Shamsudin and is taking the necessary steps to investigate the cause. "We will look into the training procedures to identify any weaknesses and areas for improvement in order to prevent a recurrence. "The army takes the training of its personnel seriously, whether at the individual or collective level. All syllabuses and standard operating procedures are developed to achieve the desired training objectives and end state. "One of the main considerations in training is safety. It remains a top priority," he told the New Straits Times. On July 28, Syamsul Haris died during Palapes UTM training at the Army Training Centre (Pulada) Combat Inoculation Range in Ulu Tiram, Johor. His mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, has called for a probe, claiming the cause of death was unclear and questionable. The single mother said her observations during the post-mortem revealed severe injuries on her son's body that were inconsistent with the initial explanation that his death was due to a seizure. On Saturday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said that a task force comprising representatives from three ministries has been formed to investigate the death. The task force includes representatives from the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry, and the Higher Education Ministry. Khaled added that the armed forces have also set up its own committee to determine the cause of death of Syamsul. On Friday, Kota Tinggi police chief Superintendent Yusof Othman said police were investigating the cadet's death. Syamsul had joined the Palapes UTM training last Saturday and that his mother received a call last Monday that he had died. Syamsul has since been buried.
