Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, the firefighter who was seriously injured in the recent riots at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, is now able to nod, open his eyes and understand instructions.

Describing this as a more positive development than before, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Farid Md Rafik said the 24-year-old was, however, still in critical condition but stable, and still required the support of his family members and colleagues.

“So far, he (Adib) is able to nod, open his eyes and understand instructions.

“That is why there are requests from his close relatives to talk to him," he said today at a brief news conference at the National Heart Institute, where the firefighter is warded for treatment.

Farid said the Prime Minister’s Department and Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself were following the developments of Adib’s condition.

"Mahathir makes sure that he is briefed on a regular basis about his (Adib) condition," he said.

Also present at the hospital Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah and Deputy Entrepreneur Development Minister Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli who spent about 30 minutes visiting the injured firefighter.

However, attempts by Bernama to enquire about Adib’s condition from family members failed as they declined to be interviewed.

In the riot incident in the early hours of Nov 27, Adib was assaulted by a group of unknown persons while involved in an operation to put out the flames of torched vehicles in front of the temple.

- Bernama