MORE PICS – AIR FORCE TRAINEE, 20 TORTURED By Seniors; Dunked in Water Till Vomit; Washed, Gargle in Sewerage, Drink Urine; Eat Nasi lemak with Grass

ABOVE: Pilot trainee, Mohd Hazim Ahmad Azam, 19, was rteportedly subjcted to ill-treatment by seniors

= = = == = UPDATE: 23^rd Feb 2007

Not the first time, this highlighted so called “torture” apparently is part and parcel of the training process to toughen up recruits. Kedah police revealed that the ragging and brawling incidents at the Air Force Training centre had been going on for about a year.

Kubang Pasu Police Chief Mohd KArim Abu (ABOVE) confirmed the police had received 4 police reports since Sept 2006. He said the police had wrapped up the probe of the 4 incidents and had had sent the investigations papers to the Deputy Attorney General Office or further action.The 4 cases involved the recent ragging case exposed by TV3 last Monday. Supt Karim also stated that police had recorded statements from trainees. The case was investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing injury to a person whereby the offenders can be jailed a year or fined RM2,000 or both, if convicted.

ABOVE: The car driven by his father together with his son led police to the scene of the crime.

Meanwhile Mohd Hasim and his father led police to the scène of the incident on Thursday. His father said that if his son had flouted the College regulations, he would abide by the College disciplinary actions.

Yet the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief Gen Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin can declared “As far as I know, there have never been cases like this” and they need two weeks to conduct the RMAF enquiry.

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Trainee's torture raises perplexing questions; 22 Feb 2007, NST

KUALA LUMPUR: The torture of a trainee air force pilot in Alor Star recently has raised several questions. Top most is what has happened to the "strict guidelines" on ragging which were introduced by the defence ministry following a similar incident in Kuching in the 80s. In that incident, the trainee pilot died.

Another question raised was why was the latest issue highlighted to the Press and not to the Student Management Officers who handle all abuse cases in colleges. These are the varying thoughts raised by several retired as well as serving air force officers. Retired armed forces senior officer Datuk Goh Seng Toh said he was sad and angry to read about the extreme physical treatment dished out to the trainee. "It was cruel," he said. Second year diploma student at the college, Muhammad Hazim Ahmad Azman, was tortured by as many as 15 senior trainees.

He was not only physically abused but was also forced to eat nasi lemak mixed with grass and drink urine. Goh pointed out that after the 1980s incident in Kuching, new guidelines were introduced to ban such practices. "What has happened to the guidelines? People forget easily. Only when something like this happens, we take action," he said. "The recruits behind this should be treated like criminals. They should be court marshalled." Goh, who retired from the air force five years ago, also urged the government not to cover up the incident. A serving air force officer, who did not want to be named, said in this case both parties were in the wrong.

"The recruits were wrong in imposing such extreme measures while Hazim should be hauled up for going to the Press. "It looks as though the officers are not doing their duty," the air force officer said. "In the past, we have had trainees sacked from college for manhandling juniors. "The college does not condone such extreme ragging methods." He also said if Hazim could not withstand the ragging then he was not fit to be an air force pilot. "If he had a problem, he should have gone to the officers at the camp instead of blowing the issue in the Press. "If he cannot even handle such treatment, how is he going to handle a fighter jet and how is he going to lead an army?" he questioned.

Another retired air force officer said what Hazim underwent was mild compared to what he had gone through when he was a cadet. He said although he was a Muslim he had beer poured over his head. "Of course, I was also asked to drink beer but somehow I was adamant and did not comply. That subjected me to more torture. "But all that made me tougher and a better soldier."

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MORE PICTURES – AIR FORCE TRAINEE Sewerage Water Ragging;Culprits May Face Military Court; Victim would be fully "protected"; 15 year three trainees Iinvestigated and Their Statements Recorded

RMAF Chief Says Ragging Culprits May Face Military Court

February 21, 2007 20:54 PM
ALOR STAR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- The Air Force Training College trainees in Kepala Batas involved in the ragging of a junior may be brought before the Military Court or face a disciplinary action. Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief Gen Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin said the form of action to be taken against them would depend on the internal inquiry into the incident which was expected to be completed in two weeks. "The inquiry panel comprises a major and two captains," he told a press

ABOVE & BELOW: Another torture session of "feeding" the victim with water until vomit
conference, here Wednesday. He said 15 year three trainees were being investigated in connection with the case and their statements had been recorded. The inquiry would also identify possible weaknesses in the RMAF training, he said. "If there were weakness, we will correct them so that cases like this will not recur," he said. Azizan said the outcome of the internal inquiry would not be made public. TV3 in its prime news at 8pm last Monday, showed a video footage of severe raging on Muhammad Hazim Ahmad Azman, 20, who was in his pilot training there.

ABOVE & BELOW: Another session of Push-ups

The recording, which was captured by a colleague, showed him being slapped, kicked, punched, stepped on and made to crawl on his knuckles. He was also forced to place his head in a rubbish bin, soak himself in a filthy drain and undergoing other forms of abuse. Azizan said the incident should not have happened because trainees of the college were trained with high discipline. "I would like to stress that the RMAF will not compromise and will not allow cases like this happen again," he said and added that the RMAF felt disturbed with the incident. "Like incidents involving the RMAF aircraft, the abuse case makes us feel disturbed. We want to know the cause. "As far as I know, there have never been cases like this," he said.

ABOVE & BELOW: Another round of drain water treatment on the victim

On investigations by the police on the same incident, Azizan said it was different because the police conducted the probe from the perspective of a crime being committed. "The RMAF will give full cooperation and will not disturb police investigations," he said. Meantime, the 15 suspects would continue to follow classes as usual, he said.

ABOVE: To the Rubbish Bin for a sewerage wash (BELOW)

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Air Force Cadets Suspended; R.Manirajan; SUN; Updated: 07:08PM Wed, 21 Feb 2007

PUTRAJAYA: Royal Malaysian Air Force cadets involved in the ragging of a trainee at the Kepala Batas training college have been suspended with immediate effect. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said an internal inquiry which is on going is expected to be completed in two weeks time.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak : "This is a despicable and an unforgivable act contrary to the teachings that could be respected by other cadets"

Although Najib declined to give details on the number of seniors suspended, it is believed that 15 seniors were involved in the incident as 15 cadets identified from the video footage gave statements to the police. "I have left it to the Air Force to take the appropriate action. The Chief of Air Force have requested for two weeks to complete their board of inquiry to come out with a report and after that immediate action will be taken.

"I will give you all the exact number of people suspended later," said Najib who is also Defence Minister. TV3 had on Tuesday in its prime news broadcast visuals of severe ragging on first year pilot trainee, Mohd Hazim Ahmad Azam, 19. The recording, captured by another freshie on his camera phone, shows Ahmad being forced to drink his own vomit, place his head in a rubbish bin, soak himself in sewer water from a drain, among others.

He was also punched and kicked. The incidents were alleged to have happened since last September at the trainees' hostel at the Tanah Merah Camp near Jitra, Kedah. Najib added that if there is evidence that those responsible are guilty, they could be expelled from the college and subject to other forms of legal action.

Najib was speaking to reporters after witnessing Penang Shipbuilding and Construction Sdn Bhd ink a US$42 million (RM147 million) agreement to design, build, launch three chemical tankers for Malaysian based Gagasan Carriers Sdn Bhd. Meanwhile, Bernama reports that police have begun probing the ragging following an order issued by the Kedah Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday.

Kubang Pasu police chief Supt Mohd Karim Abu said other trainees as well as the college officers might be called up to give their statements. He added Kubang Pasu police had set up a six-member team headed by an investigating officer to probe the case which was reported by the victim's father, Ahmad Azman Ghazali, 46, at Jitra police station on Sunday. Mohd Karim said police would be taking statements from Mohd Halim and Ahmad Azman Thursday. Investigation papers would be submitted to the Public Prosecutor who would decide whether those involved would be charged in court, he said. However, he said police would not interfere with the investigation conducted by the RMAF inquiry board.

Updated: 07:08PM Wed, 21 Feb 2007

= == = =from NST, 21^st Feb 2007;
[…]

But the incident has not soured Hazim’s determination to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot. His father, Ahmad Azman Ghazali, said yesterday Hazim wanted to continue his training. The college commandant, Kolonel Sukur Haminudin, had promised to ensure that the trainee would be fully "protected". "I was worried for his safety. But he has recovered from the assault and is determined to finish his studies. Sukur has also promised to personally oversee my son’s safety," the 46-year-old principal assistant director (northern region) of the Survey and Mapping Department said. Hazim is on medical leave until tomorrow

= = = == = UPDATE: 21^st Feb 2007

Wednesday February 21, 2007; Revenge motive behind ragging
By RASLAN BAHAROM and EMBUN MAJID
ALOR STAR: Revenge is believed to have been the motive for the ragging in which seniors allegedly forced a Royal Malaysia Air Force College trainee to swallow his vomit. Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Mohamed Karim Abu said in that the police report made by Mohamad Hazim Ahmad Azman, 19, the seniors had accused him of hiring outsiders to beat them up after the group ragged him last year. “This incident is believed have made the seniors angry enough to take revenge,” he said.

ABOVE: The father Ahmad Azman showing the police report made on the ragging.

So far, police had yet to call up any of the seniors for questioning, he said yesterday. Mohamad Hazim also claimed in media reports on Tuesday that he was forced to eat food with dried grass in it and drink drain water. Video footage, recorded on a digital camera by Mohamad Hazim’s course-mate on Jan 27, showed 15 trainees pouring hot water on him.

The victim’s father, who saw the recording last weekend, accompanied his son to lodge a police report at Jitra police station. Supt Mohamed Karim said police received the order from the DPP's Office yesterday to investigate the case. A spokesman for the college said its investigation board had called up more than 100 trainees for questioning since Monday and would recommend punitive action against the culprits after its investigation. Meanwhile, in Taiping, Mohamad Hazim's father hailed those who had sent the footage to TV3 as heroes. “I don’t know who sent it, but the person is a hero,” said Ahmad Azman Ghazali, 46, a principal assistant director at the Topography and Mapping Department.

He said: “My son told me the torture began after he denied threatening a senior trainee last year. “The senior ganged up with 15 others to force my son to admit his fault,” he told reporters at his home in Pokok Assam yesterday.

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These types of ragging must had been going on for years in all these training centres and this case surfaced because it was done in extreme. They learned them all from the seniors or taught by the College. Afterall, they need to know all these tricks as when they capture some enemies, they have to use these methods to extract information.

Once again if not for the cellphone evidence there will be a lot of cover ups. As the father put it, how can these trainees be responsible enough to be pilots with such ugly behaviour towards another human being.
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Air force trainee goes through hell

20 Feb 2007; Alina Simon; NST

ABOVE: Chest Exercise torture, bending the "spinal cord" BELOW: Rubbing his face in shit!

ALOR STAR: For more than a month, a 20-year-old trainee with the Air Force Training College in Kepala Batas here was allegedly tortured by a group of third-year seniors over a misunderstanding. The seniors thought that Muhammad Hazim Ahmad Azman had hired thugs to beat up one of them over a girl.

ABOVE: Physical push-ups torture with extra Leg Stamp on the head BELOW: Over a drain with a spadeful of Drain water for washing up.

Muhammad Hazim, from Kamunting, Taiping, Perak, denied this but had to endure all kinds of physical and mental torture that brought to mind the infamous Abu Ghraib incident in Baghdad where Iraqi prisoners were shown on recordings being tortured by American soldiers. The second-year aeronautical engineering student was allegedly slapped, kicked, punched, stepped on, made to crawl on his knuckles, beaten with broom sticks and boots, forced to drink jugs of water until he vomited and forced to eat nasi lemak mixed with dried grass. He was also allegedly dunked in sewage and forced to gargle and wash his face with sewage water and made to drink urine.

ABOVE: Using left & right hands, he was forced to eat "nasi lemak" mixed with grass etc from the ground

The alleged torture sessions lasted a few hours and took place either in the mornings or late nights at their hostel at the Tanah Merah camp in Jitra, about five kilometres from the college. This "torture sessions" were allegedly held daily and twice on Fridays and Saturdays. Yet through it all, Muhammad Hazim remained silent. But under a pseudonym, he spoke of the abuses in a chat site.

ABOVE: More "dirt" - see black stuff on the spade, poured down (BELOW) for him to "enjoy"

The seniors allegedly found out and the torture sessions turned more severe. Muhammad Hazim kept it a secret from the camp officials and even his parents for fear of severe reprisals from his torturers. A friend, who could no longer stand to see him being tortured, decided to do something about it. He captured several of the torture scenes on his digital camera on Jan 27. He burnt it on a disc which he gave to Muhammad Hazim before he went on his Chinese New Year holidays. The clips showed more than 15 smart-looking students in T-shirts and track pants either taking part in the torture sessions or watching the "show". Muhammad Hazim showed the recordings to his cousin who showed it to family members. Muhammad Hazim’s father, Ahmad Azman Ghazali, lodged a report at the Jitra police station on Sunday. During an interview here, Ahmad Azman, 46, said he was stunned when he saw the kind of torture his son had endured.

ABOVE: Father Ahmad Azman Ghazali, 46, a senior government officer (principal assistant director (northen region) of the Survey and Mapping Department) was bitter about the torture underwent by his son. He reasoned "why I brought it up was because I did not want the same thing to happen to others. This is unhealthy and out-of-control and might turn away people from wanting to join the defence forces"

A former Royal Military College student, he knew the hardships of army training and was confident his son would be able to cope as he had also graduated from the same college. But the sessions were a far cry from the military training designed to instil espirit de corps among the trainees. "This was sheer torture with breaks in between to allow my son to run back to his hostel to change into a clean T-shirt," Ahmad Azman said. "I wouldn’t have believed it if I had not seen the recordings. I wouldn’t have known the torture my son was put through." Muhammad Hazim is the eldest of Ahmad Azman’s three children. Ahmad Azman is the principal assistant director (northen region) of the Survey and Mapping Department. "My wife and I nearly cried when we saw him surrounded by the young men who looked so relaxed, happy and casual while committing these hideous acts on our son." "They are so cruel. They were like thugs rather than soon-to-be officers. "It is unthinkable that they will soon become pilots, handling multi-million ringgit aircraft and entrusted with the responsibility of defending our country." The father wants the Defence Ministry to act and bring the bullies to justice. "The seniors were careful not to leave marks on my son’s body." He now fears for his son’s future. "He could be mentally affected by all this," claiming there are changes in Muhammad Hazim’s personality. "He was a happy, out-going lad. Now, he is quiet and withdrawn." Ahmad Azman alleged his son did not go to camp officials for fear he would be expelled for complaining. "But how long can he take this kind of torture? He always wanted to be a pilot. I don’t want him to lose sight of his goal," he said. Muhammad Hazim was due to report back to the college yesterday evening, but he is on medical leave till Thursday

Air Force College Trainees Give Statements
February 20, 2007 17:27 PM
JITRA, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- Over 100 trainees of the Air Force Training College in Kepala Batas near here have been called to give statements to an inquiry board set up to investigate a case of severe ragging of a student of the college, which was exposed to the media, Monday. "As soon as the matter came to light, the trainees, from years one, two and three, who are on a holiday break for the Chinese New Year until tomorrow, were recalled yesterday to assist the probe," an officer from the college told Bernama. In the case, Mohd Hazim Ahmad Azman, 19, is alleged to have been subject to torture in the ragging sessions that happened since last Sept at the trainees' hostel located at the Tanah Merak Camp near Jitra.

A colleague of Mohd Hazim had used a digital camera to capture some of the ragging incidents, which included the victim being forced to put his head into a rubbish bin, drink his own vomit, and immersing him into a filthy drain besides other physical abuse. The victim's father, Ahmad Azman Ghazali, 46, who saw the recording when Mohd Hazim returned home for the Chinese New Year break, made a police report about it at the Jitra police station at 2 am, Monday. The officer added that the interview sessions with the trainees would finish Tuesday. Mohd Hazim is on medical leave until tomorrow and is still at his parents home in Kamunting, Perak. The board comprising three senior officers of the college is also expected call several of its officers besides its commandant, Kol Sukur Haminudin, to assist the probe.

"No action will be taken for now against the trainees involved (in the ragging of Mohd Hazim) as the investigation is still ongoing. They will continue with their training as normal when classes resume on Thursday," the officer explained, adding that the inquiry board was treating the matter with the utmost urgency. Meanwhile, Kubang Pasu police chief Supt Mohd Karim Abu said the police were waiting for instructions from the Public Prosecutor regarding the case.” We have not commenced investigations into it yet. The police report has been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor for a decision," he said. According to Mohd Karim, based on the report by Mohd Azmi's father, at least 15 trainees were believed to be involved in the abuse. He added that the case had been classified under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing injury to a person whereby the offenders can be jailed a year or fined RM2,000 or both, if convicted.

In TAIPING, Mohd Hazim's father Ahmad Azman Ghazali, 46, a senior government officer and a former student of the Royal Military College (RMC), said that although he appreciated the fact that military trainees needed to undergo harsh training, what happened to his son was above the limit. "The reason why I brought it up was because I did not want the same thing to happen to others. This is unhealthy and out-of-control and might turn away people from wanting to join the defence forces," he said when met at his mother's home in Kampung Aman, Pokok Asam, here Tuesday. He added that he was contemplating taking legal action against the college but had no plans to ask Mohd Hazim, also a former RMC student, to quit the course as his son's ambition was to be a pilot.
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February 20, 2007 21:10 PM

RMAF College Forbids Cameramen, Photographers From Taking Pictures
JITRA, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Training College in Kepala Batas near here has requested that media refrain from taking pictures of the college as it is part of a military installation.
Its commandant Colonel Sukur Hamidun said the media was barred from taking pictures within its perimeter as it was a security area but it could not stop the cameramen from doing so outside the college. He was commenting on a request by a security guard at the college for the media to refrain from taking pictures of the college as it was a security area, Tuesday."I agreed with the action taken by the security guard who had asked them (cameramen) politely to refrain from taking the pictures but he could not stop them from recording outside the guarded facilities," he said when contacted Tuesday.

Sukur thanked the cameramen for heeding the request of the security guard by erasing the pictures taken in his presence (security guard). The college has been in the limelight after a third year trainee, Mohd Hazim Mohd Azman, 19, was allegedly abused by seniors in the third year as part of a ragging activity on Jan 27. A recording of the seniors forcing the trainee to swallow his vomit, lick faeces, eat food with dried grass, drink drain water and shove his head in a dustbin as well as being kicked by his seniors was aired by TV3 in its news bulletin, Monday night. In an incident Tuesday, a security guard manning the college's main gate barred cameramen from taking pictures of the college and asked them to erase them. Bernama cameraman Josmani Salleh said the cameramen abided by the request of the security guard and erased the pictures in his presence.
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Malaysia air force begins probe into torture of trainee by senior students

Feb 20, 2007 Associated Press
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia's air force is questioning 100 trainees at a flight college after a recruit claimed he was beaten with sticks, dunked in sewage and made to drink his vomit by older students, news reports said Tuesday. The alleged harassment at The Air Force Training College in Kepala Batas in northern Malaysia went public Monday, when the victim's father lodged a police report, supported by pictures of the alleged abuses taken on a mobile phone camera by the trainee's friend. The grainy pictures -- showing a man in uniform being dunked in a barrel and being kicked on the head by other men in similar uniforms -- were published Tuesday in the New Straits Times daily. "As soon as the matter came to light, the (100) trainees from years one, two

and three, who are on a holiday break for the Chinese New Year, were recalled to assist the probe," an officer of the Air Force Training College was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama. Air force spokespeople were not immediately available for comment. The Times said that Mohammed Hazim Ahmad Azman, a 19-year-old student of aeronautical engineering, was bullied and tortured at the college hostel since September once every day and twice on Fridays and Saturdays. The Times said Mohammed Hazim was singled out because of a misunderstanding over a girl. The report didn't give details. Mohammed Hazim, however, never complained. A a friend who could not bear to see the plight secretly took pictures on Jan. 27 and gave it to Mohammed Hazim, who then showed them to his father, Ahmad Azman Ghazali.

"This was sheer torture with breaks in between to allow my son to run back to his hostel to change into a clean T-shirt," Ahmad Azman was quoted as saying. Bernama quoted the training college officer as saying that a three-member investigation panel set up on Monday is also expected to call several college officers in addition to the school's commandant, Col. Sukur Haminudin, to assist the probe. "No action will be taken for now against the trainees involved as the investigation is still ongoing. They will continue with their training as normal when classes resume on Thursday," said the unidentified officer.

That report quoted the local police chief, Supt. Mohammed Karim Abu, as saying that at least 15 trainees were believed to be involved in the hazing, and they face up to a year in jail if charged with causing injury. The Times said Mohammed Hazim was allegedly slapped, kicked, punched, stepped on, beaten with broom sticks and made to crawl on his knuckles.

ABOVE: Forcing him to drink junks of water BELOW: More Water and 2nd BELOW until Vomiting

It said he was forced to drink jugs of water until he vomited and forced to eat the vomit. He was also allegedly forced to gargle and wash his face with sewage water and made to drink urine during sessions that lasted a few hours.

= = = =see also the previous post . Go H E R E on

But why Celebrate ‘NEW YEARS at all’? Why Break up Ceaseless Flow of Time days, weeks, months etc…? SPACE & TIME Concepts are Illusions Caused by our Physical Senses; One Moment Exists & is Gone Forever? But whatever, the celebration symbolizes still what it has always symbolized for centuries: that the PRESENT is connected with the PAST; that our FAMILIES today are continuous with our ANCESTORS; that the HUMAN world can be renewed, like the NATURAL world, every Spring.