James Nayagam, a child rights activist and former SUHAKAM commissioner, has called on SUHAKAM to investigate a distressing incident involving an 11-year-old Indian schoolboy who suffered heatstroke after being forced to stand in the sun for nearly three hours. The boy, who was later hospitalised, has since been declared disabled.
James stressed that Suhakam has the authority to independently investigate such incidents without needing a formal complaint from the family. He emphasised the public interest in understanding how such an event could occur in Malaysia, advocating for transparency and accountability.
He also urged the boy’s parents to lodge an official complaint with SUHAKAM to ensure a thorough inquiry. James highlighted that SUHAKAM’s investigation could run concurrently with the ongoing police investigation, expressing confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct a fair and comprehensive review. He noted that SUHAKAM’s findings could significantly influence court proceedings.
The incident took place on April 30 in Ampang, where the boy was made to stand under the sun on a school field, resulting in heatstroke and subsequent treatment at Ampang Hospital. The hospital later classified the Year 5 student as a person with disabilities (OKU) due to a nerve condition caused by the heatstroke, which has kept him out of school.
The police have concluded their investigation and forwarded the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The boy’s family, represented by spokesperson S. Dayalan, plans to sue the school and is currently focusing on the police investigation’s outcome, with no immediate plans to involve SUHAKAM.
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