The children’s commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), expresses deep sadness and concern over the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl who fell from the 29th floor of a condominium in Puchong, Subang Jaya, on 21 May.
This devastating incident occurred just four days after a two-year-old boy was found dead after falling from the seventh floor of an apartment in Precinct 9, Putrajaya.
These back-to-back tragedies are not isolated accidents. They are preventable deaths that starkly expose the failure to implement essential safety measures in high-rise residential buildings.
These children did not have to die. Their loss is a direct consequence of a systemic failure to prioritise child safety where it matters most: at home.
As a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia is duty-bound to protect every child’s right to life, development and protection from foreseeable harm. A safe home environment is not a luxury. Providing a safe home environment is a legal and moral obligation.
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The children’s commissioner urges the government (federal and states) and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action by implementing the following measures to prevent further tragedies:
- Legislation and safety regulations: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government should enact specific laws to enhance child safety in high-rise residential buildings. This includes making it mandatory for all apartment and flat units, including rental units, to be equipped with safety grilles or protective mesh on windows and balconies. Additionally, minimum safety design standards for child-friendly high-rise units must be established under existing building laws or regulations.
- Mandatory child-safety design standards: The ministry and local authorities must review current building design guidelines to ensure child safety considerations are integrated as mandatory requirements in all high-rise residential developments.
- Public awareness and education campaigns: NGOs, joint management bodies and management bodies or corporations of all high-rise buildings should spearhead public awareness campaigns on home safety, targeting parents, caregivers and communities. These educational efforts should be incorporated into community health programmes and disseminated through health visitors, particularly, to households with young children.
- Regular and strict compliance inspections: Local authorities must conduct regular inspections of high-rise residential units, especially rental properties, to ensure compliance with child safety standards and features.
These deaths were not accidents – they were preventable. The absence of basic safety features in high-rise homes directly contributed to the loss of these young lives. This is unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold children’s rights.
Suhakam calls upon all actors – federal and state Governments, local authorities, developers, joint management bodies, management bodies or corporations and communities – to take immediate and unified action. Homes must not be high-risk zones for children; they must be places of safety, protection and dignity.
To all parents, while we push for reforms to take place, vigilance is key. If you live in a high-rise residence, never leave young children unattended, and ensure safety measures are installed. Let us do all we can to prevent further loss of innocent lives. – Suhakam
Dr Farah Nini Dusuki is the children’s commission of Suhakam.
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