Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said today that politicians should learn from Fire and Rescue Department personnel Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, who yesterday succumbed to injuries sustained after he was attacked by rioters.
"We should remember Adib as there are other stories in the so-called new Malaysia apart from nauseating politics.
"Adib's story is one of courage, dedication and sacrifice. Adib's story is of a young person who chose service due to his love for the country," he said in a statement today.
Khaled noted that not many young people would choose Adib's line of work.
"But he chose the road less taken that required extraordinary courage and sacrifices.
"This is an extraordinary Malaysian story by special individuals such as Adib and his colleagues that should be retold and remembered.
"To politicians in Malaysia, you should learn from Adib's example," he said.
Unlike some of his party colleagues, Khaled did not assign blame to his political opponents.
MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh conveyed his condolences to Adib's family and urged the government to act against those who were, directly and indirectly, involved in the riots that led to Adib's death.
"I also hope the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy and Selangor exco V Ganabatirau to take responsibility for their previous statement.
"Their statements had clearly caused prejudice among the people," he said.
'Allow law to take its course'
Council of Churches of Malaysia general-secretary Hermen Shastri, meanwhile, said special prayers in churches will be conducted for Adib.
"We pray that his family and relatives will have the support and strength in their difficult time of grief," he said.
Hermen said the Council of Churches also prays that all quarters will remain calm and allow the law to take its course.
"The late Adib sacrificed his life in the line of duty. He should be honoured and his life’s example should be an inspiration to all Malaysians to put others before self in the pursuit of peace and security of our nation," he said.
The 24-year-old was part of the Fire and Rescue Department team that had been deployed in response to vehicles that were torched by rioters.
However, the rioters attacked the personnel. Authorities claim Adib was dragged out of his vehicle and beaten up, causing him to suffer several broken ribs and injuries to multiple organs.
His condition had initially improved after undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute.
However, IJN yesterday said Adib became critically ill and was put back on life support after his condition deteriorated within 24 hours.
He passed away yesterday.
On Nov 25, the developer which owns the land on which the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple is located had tried to take control area in a bid to enforce a consent judgment.
The developer allegedly hired thugs to secure the temple, leading to clashes with temple devotees that, in turn, led to riots.
The developer has denied that it had hired thugs as announced by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Supporters gathered near the temple the following day, after which a second round of rioting broke out. Adib was attacked during the incident.
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