SHAH ALAM, Feb 14 — Nozzle man Mohd Hazim Mohd Rahimi, who was dispatched to the scene of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple riot said he never saw the late Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim exit the Emergency Medical Response Service (EMRS) van on the night of the incident.

Speaking as the sixth witness, Mohd Hazim said he got off the firetruck once they arrived at the scene and he made his way to the left side of the fire engine intending to attach hose to water reservoir latch.

Mohd Hazim detailed how he heard loud chants from the mob there the moment he got down.

“There was already a mob, some carrying rods and sticks, approaching the fire engine and one person chasing me with what looked like a metal rod.

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“I then decided to run for safety, and entered the EMRS van through the left sliding door.

“The front left door was shut and I did not notice Adib outside the van, as I would have certainly noticed a fellow fireman dressed in full uniform,” he told the Shah Alam Coroner’s court today.

Mohd Hazim however added that once inside the van, he was unable to tell if Adib was indeed still seated inside the van, as the vehicle was being shaken by protestors, adding to the already chaotic situation.

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He was responding to questions posed by DPP Hamdan Hamzah during the inquiry that was attended by Muhammad Adib’s family lawyers Mohamad Kamaruzaman A. Wahab and Syazlin Mansor, and Suhakam lawyer Maha Ramakrishnan.

Coroner Rofiah Mohammad presided over the inquest.

Mohd Hazim then explained how difficult it was to carry out their duties that night without police presence.

He explained how his station had attended to three fires in the 24 hours leading up to the riot, all doused without interference thanks to police presence.

“There was a car on fire near the USJ Hicom toll on the night of the 26th; there were also people chanting there, but the police were present and we managed to put out the fire, do our jobs and head back to the station,” he said when questioned by Syazlin.

Mohd Hazim then agreed with Syazlin that the mob were able to get close to the fire truck due to the lack of police presence.