Malaysia’s armed forces vowed to probe fresh allegations of bullying after a hot iron was pressed on the chest of a student at a military university, just months after courts handed the death penalty to six former students over the killing of a fellow cadet at the institution.
The Malaysian National Defence University (UPNM) gained infamy in 2017 over the death of Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, 21, after six course mates took turns pressing a steam iron on the victim’s body, including on his private parts.
Zulfarhan succumbed to his injuries 10 days after the assault.
In the latest case, another student at the university was allegedly tortured by a senior who pressed an iron on his chest until it left burn marks, according to the armed forces without saying when the incident took place.
“The Armed Forces confirms that the case is now under investigation,” it said in a statement posted on the defence ministry’s Facebook page late on Wednesday.
“The Armed Forces stress that investigations will be thorough and will not protect or compromise with any party involved in the case.”
The fresh bullying claims triggered broad condemnation by Malaysians, many of whom questioned the ongoing dangers to students at the university, an institution responsible for training military officers and potential future leaders of the armed forces.
