RM1.5 million for fireman ADIB's family -ex-gratia compensation raises questions...PM must explain?

The government paid an RM1.5 million ex-gratia compensation to the family of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim who died in 2018.

The question that we must ask is WHY was the payment made. Why RM1.5 million?

Is it a new government policy to pay RM1.5million as 'ex-gratia compensation' for any public officer that dies in the performance of his/her duties? Payment of an ex-gratia compensation of RM30,000 to RM100,000 would have been just - but a payment of RM1.5 million of the rakyat's monies raises questions.

Will the government pay RM1.5 million ex-gratia compensation to person/s killed by public officials or in government premises. 

In death in police custody cases, should not the government also pay out ex-gratia compensation?

Take the case of Dhamendran, where the EAIC inquiry found the police had caused the death.

i) The Commission found the death of Dhamendran a/l Narayanasamy (I.C Num 811028-14-5551) on 21 May 2013 resulted from the use of physical force by the police. EAIC’S INVESTIGATION FINDINGS  ON THE DEATH OF N. DHARMENDRAN IN POLICE CUSTODY

4 police officers were charged but at the end of the day, they were acquitted, Then, the family had to sue in the civil court, and the court ordered that the family be paid about half a million in compensation.'The High Court here today awarded Marry Mariay Susay, whose husband N Dharmendran died in police custody in 2013, close to half a million ringgit in damages.The housewife had sued the police and the government in 2016 for damages over assault, battery, breach of duty, negligence, false imprisonment and conspiracy...' - RM490,000 to widow of Dharmendran(died in police custody) - 4 officers charged for 'murder' remain FREE and in the police?

There were other cases where the family had to sue to receive damages/compensation.

Adib's case - the coroner found that person/s were criminally liable for the death. However, the police failed to identify the perpetrators and no one was charged in court. This is common, there has been so many murders and other crimes, where the perpetrators are never identified, let alone prosecuted. To be found guilty, the burden of proof is HIGH - beyond reasonable doubt, and that explains why the families in suits can succeed even if the perpetrators were acquitted.

BUT, now with the RM1.5 million pay out to Adib's family - is there a change of government policy under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri?

Was the reason for the high pay-out based on justice, or simply 'politics'. After all, the announcement was made at the UMNO General meeting in March 2022, when the payment was made in November 2021. Why were not told about this in November?

PM Ismail Sabri also just announced a good thing = that 

he government will pay RM10,000 to families who have lost their source of income due to the death of their breadwinners as part of its insurance protection plan.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government has identified an initial 268,000 poor families through its eKasih system who will benefit from the plan.

This RM10,000 is a far cry from the RM1.5 million that the late Adib's family received.

So,please explain the RM1.5 million pay-out > that monies could have helped a lot of the people that lossed income and jobs... 

 

NEWS

Govt paid RM1.5m compensation to Adib's family - PM
M Fakrull Halim
Published: Mar 19, 2022 5:15 PM
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Updated: 9:22 PM

The government paid an RM1.5 million ex-gratia compensation to the family of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim who died in 2018.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the Umno general assembly today that the payment was made on Nov 29 last year.

"Even though investigations are still underway, I wish to inform something that was not announced before, that the government paid ex-gratia of RM1.5 million to Adib's family.

"This is proof of the effort and concern of Umno in defending the people," he said at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre.

Ismail Sabri was addressing Umno delegates in his capacity as prime minister and Umno vice-president.

Adib died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17, 2018, after succumbing to injuries sustained while on duty during riots near the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor about a month prior.

In September 2020, coroner Rofiah Mohamad ruled that Adib's death was a criminal act perpetrated by two or three unidentified assailants during a riot outside the temple in November 2018.

However, investigators have yet to be able to identify the alleged perpetrators.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob

On Oct 9, Ismail Sabri announced that an expert committee had been formed to look into Adib’s death.

He told the Umno delegates that the committee would table an interim report before the end of March.

Probe on ex-AG’s memoir

The prime minister also pledged that his administration will take action against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas if any wrongdoing is found in the investigation into Thomas' memoir "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness".

A special task force was set up to investigate allegations made in the memoir that was published last year.

The task force will conduct a preliminary study on these allegations including those on the appointment of judges, excessive interference by the government in the judiciary, and selective prosecution.

The police have received more than a hundred reports against Thomas in regard to his book. - Malaysiakini, 19/3/2022

NEWS

Adib's father confirms receipt of RM1.5 million, will use it wisely

N Faizal Ghazali

Published: Mar 20, 2022 3:56 PM

The family of late firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim has confirmed that they have received RM1.5 million in the form of an ex-gratia compensation payment from the federal government.

The matter was confirmed by Adib's father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

However, he said, the family is still demanding that the investigation into his son’s case persist and justice is served.

“Yes, we have received compensation, but we still demand that justice be done,” he said.

When asked how the family plans to use the compensation money, Kassim said they would use it as best they could.

“God willing, we will find the best possible use for the compensation,” he said briefly while thanking the government.

Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, father of late firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the Umno general assembly that the government paid an RM1.5 million ex-gratia compensation to Adib’s family on Nov 29 last year.

Adib died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17, 2018, after succumbing to injuries sustained while on duty during riots near the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor about a month prior.

In September 2020, coroner Rofiah Mohamad ruled that Adib’s death was a criminal act perpetrated by two or three unidentified assailants during a riot outside the temple last November.

However, investigators have yet to be able to identify the alleged perpetrators.

On Oct 9, Ismail Sabri announced that an expert committee had been formed to look into Adib's death.

Ismail Sabri also announced a special committee to examine the revelations about the case made by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas in his book.

He said the special task force was taking action, including calling the parties involved. - Malaysiakini, 20/3/2022

Govt to pay RM10,000 to families who have lost breadwinners
FMT Reporters
-March 23, 2022 2:04 PM

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the government will allocate RM13.4 million a year for payments under the insurance protection plan. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government will pay RM10,000 to families who have lost their source of income due to the death of their breadwinners as part of its insurance protection plan.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government has identified an initial 268,000 poor families through its eKasih system who will benefit from the plan.

He said the government will allocate RM13.4 million a year for payouts under the programme.

In a statement today, Ismail said the government planned to improve the socio-economic status of families by focusing on efforts to improve the income of heads of households from the poor and hardcore poor groups whose breadwinners had died.

He said the pandemic had exposed the weaknesses of the social protection system of many countries, including Malaysia.

He said the Malaysian Social Protection Council had decided to roll out several initiatives to strengthen the social protection agenda to achieve zero hardcore poverty by 2025, in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Previously, Ismail had said that new and innovative social protection solutions were urgently required to strike a balance between the provision of safety nets, promotion of financial resilience, and human capital development.

He said quick responses were required to uplift the community, promote rights and bridge social protection gaps, especially for informal economy workers, housewives or unpaid family workers, such as caregivers. - FMT, 23/3/2022