Calls grow for stricter safety rules after boy dies in school van

New Straits Times

02-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The tragic death of a five-year-old boy left in a locked school van has shocked Malaysia and sparked urgent discussions on child safety in transportation.
As public pressure mounts, experts are calling for a comprehensive overhaul, not just of regulations, but also of everyday practices and community culture.
Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Group at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) head and Safe Kids Malaysia executive director, Prof Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani, said the issue of children being forgotten in vehicles is entirely preventable.
He said that no family should ever have to experience such a loss.
"Children being left behind in vehicles is a preventable tragedy, and no family should have to endure such a loss.
"We need a multi-pronged approach, technological, procedural, and educational," he said.
Prof Kulanthayan called for Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG) to keep records of transport arrangements and to be actively engaged in monitoring.
"A simple step like this could save a life."
MY Mobility Vision founder and transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the immediate safety improvement would be child-check alarm systems.
"These systems are simple yet effective. They require the driver to walk to the back of the van to deactivate the alarm.
"Countries like South Korea already mandate them," he said.
Wan Agyl suggested adding attendance logbooks or digital tracking systems to monitor pick-ups and drop-offs, but warned that cost remains a significant obstacle.
"Most van operators are small-scale and struggling to cover costs. We cannot impose safety upgrades without financial support," he said.
He further proposed a mobile verification app for parents to check the legitimacy of van operators, providing informal services with a path to formalisation without exclusion.
Suriana Welfare Society of Malaysia consultant and child safety advocate Dr James Nayagam pointed out that a lack of collaboration among stakeholders is a major issue.
"We must get parents, schools, and operators to work together in a more systematic way.
"By coordinating efforts, from basic checklists to shared accountability, we can significantly reduce these risks," he said.
He said raising public awareness and involving PIBGs in monitoring transport arrangements would be key to improving safety.
"The community has to be part of the solution; it can't be left to the authorities alone."
From a legal standpoint, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Child Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki underscored the importance of enforcing child protection laws.
"Failure to check for children can be deemed negligence under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001.
"If a child doesn't show up at school, the centre should contact the parents immediately, this is a basic, proactive safeguard," she said.
As Malaysia mourns this avoidable loss, experts agree on one thing - safety reform must be inclusive, affordable, and community-driven.
It was reported that a five-year-old boy died after being left in a locked school van in Taman Bukit Indah.