[ Herald Tribune ] Malaysian army probes recruits' alleged abuse, warns against ragging

The Associated Press
Published: October 17, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The Malaysian army is investigating claims by two recruits that they were abused by senior officers, a top official said Wednesday, as he warned of severe punishment for bullies in the force.

Zarul Fahmi Shabsuddin, 20, alleged he was forced to drink weapon cleaning fluid while Khairul Azzuwan Zainal Rashid, 19, claimed he was scarred after an officer cut his arm with a knife, said Lt. Gen. Mohamad Effendi Mustafa, commander of the army's first division infantry.

The two recruits, from a military camp in Sarawak state on Borneo island, filed complaints with police late last month, he said.

"We don't accept any ragging ... we don't tolerate such nonsense. We are investigating the allegations and (anyone found guilty) will get into trouble. They will be punished," Effendi told The Associated Press.

Investigations are expected to wrap up this month, he said.

Zarul and Khairul are on leave for the Eid al-Fitr holidays but are expected to return to the camp this weekend, he said, adding that no one has been suspended so far.

Allegations of abuse are not uncommon in the Malaysian army.
Last week, another family lodged a report, asking police to investigate the death of their son in August in an army camp in southern Negeri Sembilan state.

The army has said Norrafizul Abdul Rahim died after falling from a four meter (13 feet) high fence, but the family claimed the post-mortem report showed their son had 25 injury marks on his body caused by blunt objects, local reports said.