In April 2025, it was reported that a 5-year-old boy suffocated to death after being trapped inside a school van for almost 5 hours in Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru.
“The victim is believed to have been left behind after the van driver dropped off other children in front of the kindergarten at 7:30am,” said Iskandar Puteri District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner M. Kumarasan.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
Following that, the 56-year-old van driver, who was hired by the boy’s kindergarten, was arrested to assist in the investigations under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which is the offence of ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure of children.
“Can RM100,000 pay for my child’s life?”
According to a report by China Press, the boy’s parents are now recounting how the kindergarten had allegedly offered them RM100,000 as a settlement for their child’s death, while adding that the kindergarten apparently said that they are not responsible for the incident.
“Can RM100,000 buy back my child’s life? Even if you give me RM1 million, I won’t take it. I just want my child back!” the boy’s mother said.
The parents initially filed a claim of RM2,059,301 from 4 parties through a pro bono lawyer. The kindergarten allegedly then came forward with a settlement of RM100,000, which they rejected as they believe the offer is insincere.
They will formally file a lawsuit at the Johor Bahru High Court next month (August 2025). Those included in the lawsuit are the kindergarten, the group operating the kindergarten, the transport company, as well as the van driver.
“Who signed my child in during roll call?”
The boy’s mother further shared that the kindergarten had claimed that there was a roll call on the day of the incident.
“The school director and teacher said they took roll call, but when I asked who signed my child in when he didn’t show up in class, no one answered,” she said, adding that if there really was a roll call, nothing serious would have happened as they would have noticed her son’s absence.
She further added that she cannot accept that the kindergarten is not admitting its alleged negligence and that they are unwilling to take responsibility.
Due to this, she hopes that the Attorney General’s Chambers will review their case and not only charge the van driver, but also the kindergarten operator and everyone else involved in this incident.
