The inquest to determine the cause of death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim will be conducted thoroughly to avoid any loopholes which can be exploited by certain quarters.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the inquest was not deliberately delayed as time was needed to ensure that the best is being done as this was a matter of public interest.

"We will ensure that the process is fair and thorough. 

"Previously, Adib was given the best treatment... we are thankful that his family agreed to have the postmortem conducted and the reports have been completed.

"Usually the inquest will take a month, but we may complete it in a much shorter time as the necessary information is already available," she told reporters after visiting Adib's family in Kuala Kedah today.

According to Zuraida, at the first inquest to be conducted at the Coroner’s Court on Jan 18, all witnesses including the doctors who treated him and pathologists who performed the autopsy would be summoned.

On Dec 28, solicitor-general III Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria said the Attorney-General's Chambers had filed papers for the inquest at the registrar’s office in Shah Alam, with case management of the inquest fixed on Jan 18.

Meanwhile, Adib's mother, Asma Aziz, 51, hoped that the inquest proceedings could be conducted and resolved quickly.

"I hope those responsible for his death, including the masterminds, will be arrested soon. Whatever the case, I accept his death as fate,” she said.

On investigations into the death of six firefighters who drowned during a rescue operation in a mining pool in Puchong on Oct 3, Zuraida said the report has reached the final stages before being tabled to the cabinet.

"All those who died will be given posthumous promotion just like Adib, and the welfare of their families will be taken care of," she said.

Meanwhile in Kulim, Zuraida called on the Environment Department to monitor operations of plastic waste recycling plants and submit their reports to her ministry once every six months.

She said this measure must be taken to ensure that the factories operate in accordance with standard operating procedures as set by the ministry, to protect and improve the environment.

“With the reports available it will facilitate cooperation and enforcement between both parties," she told reporters after visiting two waste recycling factories in Alor Setar today.

- Bernama