PETALING JAYA: A former Suhakam commissioner has called on the human rights commission to investigate the recent incident in which a schoolboy suffered heatstroke after being forced to stand in the sun for nearly three hours.
James Nayagam, who is also a child rights activist, said Suhakam does not have to wait for the family to lodge a complaint before initiating a probe into the matter.
“Independently, Suhakam is mandated to conduct the investigation. They do not have to wait for a complaint to come. Such an incident is in the public interest, and people want to know how such a thing can happen in Malaysia.
“If it were me, I would surely investigate,” he told FMT.
Nayagam also advised the victim’s parents to lodge an official complaint to Suhakam to ensure the commission launches an inquiry. He said a Suhakam investigation can run parallel with a police probe.
The activist was confident the commission would undertake a balanced investigation, saying it has abundant experience in conducting such inquiries. Its findings may also be used in court, he added.
FMT has reached out to Suhakam for comment.
According to police, the boy had been made to stand under the sun in the middle of a school field in Ampang on April 30. He suffered heatstroke as a result, and had to seek treatment at Ampang Hospital.
The family said the hospital assessed the Year 5 student as a person with disabilities (OKU) following the incident. They said he has been unable to return to school due to a “nerve condition” which is said to have arisen as a result of the heatstroke suffered.
Police have wrapped up their probe into the case and have referred the investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
The family plans to sue the school.
Its spokesman, S Dayalan, said they have no plans to engage Suhakam as yet. He said they were presently focused on the outcome of the police investigation. - FMT
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