Mayor blasted for remark on child’s death

Bukit Gasing rep Rajiv says it’s unfair to blame the parents in the Bukit Damansara incident.

PETALING JAYA: Mayor Alinah Ahmad today received a ticking off for allegedly insinuating that last week’s death of a five-year-old child at the Bukit Damansara flats was the fault of her parents.

Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran, while agreeing that parents were responsible for their children’s safety, said five-year-old M Thinasraj might have still been alive if the authorities had been diligent in maintaining facilities at the low-cost flats.

The child fell to his death from the 14th floor of Block D of the flats last Friday. Reports said he was playing in the corridor when rusty guard railings gave way.

According to news reports, a group of residents submitted a memorandum to Alinah that urged her to ensure that the railings were fixed. The reports said she made the following comment as she received the note: “If we fix it, are you sure it won’t happen again?”

“I truly regret the mayor’s statement,” Rajiv said. “Although it is the responsibility of the parents to care for the children, the safety features have been compromised.”

He pledged to look into the question of proper maintenance of facilities at the flats.

“Kota Damansara has been in the spotlight due to the this incident and it is our responsibility to rectify it and not just blame the family,” he said.