SHAH ALAM, Feb 11 — An emergency vehicle driver testified today that the late fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim was in the vehicle with him when a fire engine reversed into them during riots at a temple.

Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) van driver Ahmad Shahril Othman, who was testifying at Mohd Adib’s inquest, said both of the vehicles were attacked by a mob following the collision.

However, Shahril said he was still assessing the situation with Mohd Adib during these events that happened on the early morning of November 27 last year.

"He was sitting next to me. I was still communicating with him and was looking at the officer who step out of the FRT to put out the fire,” he said.

The officer Shahril was referring to was fireman Mohd Hazim Mohd Rahimi, 31, who stepped out of the fire engine to put out a burning car.

Mohd Hazim was part of a seven-man FRT team, along with EMRS officers Shahril and Mohd Adib, who responded to a distress call on a burning car near the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya.

Prior to the inquest, the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple taskforce task force chairman S. Ramaji alleged that Mohd Adib had sustained injuries after being hit by a fire truck on the night of the incident.

Following the allegations, Mohd Hazim last year denied the claim and stated it was he who was hit by the fire truck instead of Mohd Adib.

Although Ramaji apologised to Mohd Adib’s family over his claim, his allegation had started a nationwide protest.

*A previous version of this story contained an error which has since been corrected.