MPs, NGOs continue to demand answers on navy cadet's death

MPs and NGOs have demanded answers and immediate action from authorities regarding the death of deceased navy cadet J Soosaimanicckam, at a memorandum handover in Parliament today.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the group, Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing urged for action to be taken following the Ipoh High Court’s 2024 ruling that the cadet’s 2018 death was due to homicide.

“We demand thorough and transparent answers from the relevant authorities. What are the follow-up actions that have been taken since the Ipoh High Court ruling, which has clearly decided that this was a case of homicide, and that his death was caused by other navy officers?

“We urge immediate and thorough action, and for an independent investigative task force to be established. The findings from this independent investigation should also be communicated to the deceased’s family for the sake of transparency,” said Tan.

He also urged for an inquiry to be reopened on the case, and for an independent investigative task force to be established. He emphasised that this should be the responsibility of the relevant authorities, especially the police.

Tan added that despite the deceased’s family and NGOs sending memorandums over the last few years, they have not received any follow-ups from any of the relevant authorities.

Earlier this year, Soosaimanicckam’s family members handed over a similar memorandum to the Attorney-General’s Chambers asking them to instruct the police to open a new investigation into his death.

The memorandum in May requested an independent and neutral probe from the Bukit Aman police headquarters, for a timeline to be given to the family, and for updates to be provided on the case.

In June, Suhakam also urged the AGC to conduct a similar inquiry, highlighting that the case was a violation of international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Soosaimanicckam was pronounced dead at the Lumut Military Hospital on May 19, 2018, after alleged ragging during training.

In August last year, his family also submitted a memorandum to Bukit Aman, demanding an investigation following the Ipoh High Court decision that his death was a homicide.

Judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed ruled that the 27-year-old’s death was a direct consequence of the navy officers in charge of his training.

“The victim has already been denied justice once, when he died… If this case continues without further action, it would mean that the deceased and his family would be denied justice again, for the second time,” said Tan.

Also present at the memorandum handover today were the deceased’s father, Charles Sinnappan, Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan, and representatives from the NGO, Coalition of Victims of Torture and Deaths in Custody.

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