Parents reject $30k settlement from kindergarten in JB after son suffocates to death in school van, Malaysia News
His parents have since rejected a RM100,000 (S$30,000) settlement offer from the kindergarten, reported China Press on July 30.
Previously, the family had filed a claim of RM2,059,301 (S$626,000) through a pro bono lawyer.
In response, the kindergarten proposed a settlement of RM100,000 through a representative lawyer on July 11.
In a press conference held on July 30, the boy's parents rejected the settlement money and his mother said the school van driver was hired by the kindergarten, so the school should be held accountable.
Speaking in Mandarin, she said: "Can this RM100,000 buy my child's life? I don't want money, I just want my child back. You have no sincerity at all."
The deceased's mother also pointed out that the kindergarten claimed there was a roll call on the day of the incident and her child was marked present even when he did not appear in class.
"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 she could not accept that the kindergarten did not admit its negligence.
The school van driver was supposed to go to court on June 17 but he, his representative lawyer and guarantor did not appear.
The judge scheduled the case for another hearing on July 18 and issued an arrest warrant for the driver.
The boy's father said he hopes the Attorney General's Chambers in Putrajaya will review the case and charge not only the driver, but also the kindergarten operator, so that every party involved will be held accountable. Driver charged, but not kindergarten operator
The parent's lawyer said that on June 20, he appealed to the Attorney General's Chambers on behalf of the boy's parent's, seeking an explanation as to why only the driver was charged under Malaysia's Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 (negligence causing hurt to a child), but not the kindergarten operator, who should have borne greater responsibility.
He pointed out that the kindergarten operator was the driver's employer and failed to fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.
The lawyer will file a lawsuit in the Johor Bahru High Court in August and the parties being sued are Tadika Perintis kindergarten, YK Education Group Sdn Bhd, Double Tree Transport Sdn Bhd and the school van driver.
"The family believes that the position of the kindergarten operator and the drier is unreasonable, not only lacking in sincerity, but also irresponsible. The party at fault does not need to express sympathy, but rather express remorse and apologise," said the lawyer.
He also emphasised that the family is not seeking monetary compensation and just want to see the kindergarten operator take responsibility, express remorse, apologise and provide an explanation for the incident.
melissateo@asiaone.com
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