By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
IPOH: The horror of a child drowning in a swimming pool in Tambun last week has yet to subside, yet another 3-year-old girl drowned in a swimming pool, also in Tambun, Sunday night.
Perak Police Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said that at around 9:25 pm, the police received information from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) regarding the death of a girl due to drowning.
“The victim was brought to the hospital by her family and was confirmed dead by HRPB.
“The initial investigation found that the incident occurred in a children’s swimming pool located next to a row of houses and is owned by a neighbour of the victim’s grandfather in Tambun,” he said in a statement here.
Mohd Yusri said that at the time of the incident, the victim and her mother were in the house visiting family members, while the victim’s father went out to send his siblings back to another place of accommodation.
“At around 6:30 pm, the victim was found floating in the children’s swimming pool by her brother and was then taken to the hospital by her family,” he said.
He said that a forensic investigation had been conducted by the HRPB Forensic Department yesterday and the cause of death was ‘drowning’.
“In connection with this, the case is being investigated under Section 33 (1), Child Act 2001 (Act 611) (allowing a child to be left unsupervised without proper supervision).
“If convicted, the offense can be fined not more than RM5,000 or imprisoned for a period not exceeding two years or both,” he said.
He said that this incident was the fourth drowning case involving children in Ipoh this year due to parental neglect.
“The police take this matter very seriously and will take strict legal action against parents or guardians who allow their children to be left unsupervised without proper supervision, causing fatal accidents.
