Sue gov’t, PAS urges dead gov’t officer’s family


By Hafiz Yatim | Malaysiakini

PAS central committee member Mohamad Sabu has urged the family of late customs officer Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed’s (below) family not to give up in seeking justice for his death.

Mohamad or better known as Mat Sabu, said he had visited the family of the Royal Customs Department’s senior assistant director last week where he gained the impression that they seemed resigned to his death with the possibility of not pursuing the matter further.

“This is the difference between the Chinese and Malays. The Chinese when this thing happened like Teoh Beng Hock, they will continue to fight to clear his name and seek justice. Now after two years, the issue is still hot.

“For Malays we should not leave it to fate but continue with the struggle. We should not be satisfied that yes, we have already received the body, and that is the end of the matter.

“The family should continue with the struggle to clear his name and continue to seek justice,” he said.

Mohamad said the same thing happened with the death of teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah when police shot him dead.

Counsel hired but action uncertain

He feels that this attitude of resignation among the Malays should not continue and wants the community to emulate the Chinese and the others by taking on the institutions that may have contributed to the death.

Mat Sabu said a good way would be for the family to file a suit and continue seeking other legal avenues to keep the issue hot.

The family has engaged lawyers to monitor the case but whether any action will follow is uncertain.

On the possibility that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Customs Department applying pressure on family members, Mat Sabu (right) concurred the possibility was there, adding that, nevertheless. the family should persevere.

The customs officer was found dead on April 6 after falling from the third floor of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory MACC headquarters under mysterious circumstances. Police have classified the case as sudden death.

However, his friends when interviewed suspected elements of foul play as the senior customs officer had gone there to retract his statement and was scheduled to perform the haj later this year with his parents.

Police had submitted their investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers once their probe was completed, only to receive them back earlier this week.

  1. #1 by Taxidriver on Saturday, 30 April 2011 - 9:17 pm

    Good hearted Malaysians can feel the pain Ahmad Sarbani’s family members are going through. We hope they heed Mat Sabu’s advice to pursue the case until justice is done to clear the deceased name. I am sure many justice-loving Malaysians are willing to contribute toward the legal cost should they make a request.

  2. #2 by good coolie on Wednesday, 4 May 2011 - 11:30 pm

    So another brother of ours has joined the ranks of those killed through the actions or omission of the MACC. Listen here, MACC, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE, even if you are not the one pulling trigger! Accept responsibility, please.

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