Gerakan In The News

Family of toddler killed after falling from PPR unit window to receive psychological support

May 9, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: Psychological support to cope with their loss and bereavement will be offered to the family of an 11-month-old baby who was killed after accidentally falling through their home’s third-floor window.

Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau said the family is disconcerted and needed counselling following the loss of their youngest child in the least expected way.

In the May 2 incident, the baby girl was said to have been playing with seven of her siblings and cousins between the ages of 2 and 14 years old at a unit of the PPR Sri Aman, Jinjang when she suddenly slipped through the window.

The children were playing on a double-decker bed located near the window which had not been fitted with a grille when she slipped and fell through.

The toddler died while on the way to the Hospital.

The toddlers’ parents, Norashikin Julia and Khairul Faizal Abdul Rahim, both 37, were on the receiving end of criticism from netizens who blamed the couple for negligence saying they were lousy parents and should be arrested.

“But clearly, it is not the parents’ fault but instead the lack of safety features at each unit, namely the failure of the PPR developer to install a grille for the windows which had resulted in the toddler’s death.

“It is not fair to blame the parents when basic amenities such as a grille had not been included in the construction of these low-cost houses,” Lau said when met at the couple’s home today.

Lau during the visit presented the family with new window grilles, to ensure the rest of their children staying in the house will remain safe.

Speaking on the poor safety aspects at PPRs in the country, Lau called on the government, especially the Housing and Local Government and the Federal Territories ministries to make grilles at all PPR projects, old and new, compulsory.

“We do not want another similar incident to occur. Thus, we urge the ministry to re-look into this feature at low-cost housing projects,” he said adding that he will bring it up with the ministries after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

Lau also proposed that all new PPR project developers install grilles before they are occupied or delivered to the residents.

He added that Gerakan will provide the family with the necessary counselling and psychological support so that they can slowly get over the incident and move on with their lives.

“At this point, the family, especially the toddler’s father and siblings who witnessed the fall are still very much affected,” he said.