A heartbreaking incident has occurred in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where a five-year-old boy was discovered dead after being left in a locked school van for over four hours. The boy’s father, Teo Jia, believes that his son, Yu Zie, may have attempted to escape the vehicle but was unable to do so.
According to reports from Malaysian media outlet New Straits Times, the tragedy unfolded when Teo Jia received a call from a teacher around 1 PM, urging him and his wife to rush to the hospital as their son was in critical condition. Upon arrival, Teo found his only child “lying motionless, weak, and not breathing.” Medical personnel informed him that they had done everything possible to save Yu Zie, but unfortunately, he had succumbed to a suspected lack of oxygen.
Teo recounted that the school van had picked up Yu Zie from their home in Taman Bukit Indah at approximately 7:15 AM, with the expectation that the children would be dropped off at the kindergarten, located about 2 kilometers away, by 8:15 AM. After dropping off the children, the van driver typically left the vehicle unattended and returned home on a motorcycle. Teo speculated that his son might have fallen asleep during the ride, leading the driver to overlook him.
Expressing his disappointment, Teo criticized both the van driver and the kindergarten for their negligence. He emphasized that the driver should have conducted a thorough check to ensure all children had exited the vehicle before locking it. Furthermore, he pointed out that the kindergarten staff should have verified attendance and checked on any child who was absent.
Yu Zie’s aunt, who spoke to Sin Chew, echoed Teo’s sentiments, stating that the kindergarten director attributed the incident to the driver’s oversight. She lamented that if the boy had been discovered earlier, the tragedy could have been averted. The aunt also criticized the school for failing to notify the parents when their child did not arrive at school.
In response to the incident, the school van driver has been arrested and is currently being held for seven days to assist with the ongoing investigation. Authorities are looking into the case under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which addresses child neglect.
This tragic event has raised serious concerns about the safety protocols in place for transporting young children and the responsibilities of both drivers and educational institutions in ensuring their well-being.