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 after he was found with bruises and burns on the body at his apartment, 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 last 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.

Cryptic message

Before his death, Zulfarhan had told his mother to take care of herself.

Hawa Osman said Zulfarhan Osman, 21, 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 Johor Bahru last night.

Hawa, 54, who is an administration assistant at Sekolah Menengah Aminudin Baki here said the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (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.

Meanwhile, Zulfarhan Osman's burial was carried out about 9.30pm after a hearse from the Malaysian Armed Forces arrived with the body at the cemetery at 9.15pm.

The ceremony was attended by more than 100 people, including Zulfarhan Osman's family members and friends.

Zulfarhan Osman died at the hospital at 10pm after he was found with bruises and burns at his apartment.

His death is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder and the police have remanded 36 students of UPNM and Universiti Tenaga Nasional to facilitate investigations.

- Bernama