'He could've tried to get out': Boy found dead near van door, says dad
By Izz Laily Hussein

JOHOR BARU: Yu Zie, the five-year-old boy who died after being left in a locked school van in Taman Bukit Indah yesterday, is believed to have tried to escape the vehicle, as he was found unconscious near the door of the van.

The boy's father, who identified himself as Teo Jia, 37, said he was heartbroken, believing his son had attempted to get out but failed.

He said this suggested that his only child died due to the van driver's negligence.

"I am very disappointed. The van driver should have properly checked and ensured that all the children had exited before locking the van or going home.

"The kindergarten was also negligent.

They should have checked the attendance… if a child is absent, they should contact the family to ask where the child is," he said.

Recalling the incident, he said a teacher had called him around 1pm, urging him and his wife to come to the hospital urgently as their son was in critical condition.

"When I arrived, I saw my son lying motionless, weak, and not breathing.

"The doctor said they had done everything they could to save him," he said.

Teo Jia, who works in Singapore, said that before the incident, his son had been picked up by the van driver from their home in Taman Bukit Indah at about 7.15am.

He said the school van usually arrived at the kindergarten around 8.15am, as it was about two kilometres away.

"I found out that once the van arrives, the driver drops off the children at the kindergarten and then leaves the van nearby before going home by motorcycle.

"My son might have fallen asleep at that time, and the driver probably didn't notice him.

"Around noon, we found out my son had died near the van door — maybe he was trying to get out but couldn't," he said.

Teo Jia hopes the police will conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action, as he does not want the same tragedy to happen to another child.

Yu Zie will be buried at the Nirvana Memorial Park Christian Kong Kong in Masai, Pasir Gudang.

Earlier, Iskandar Puteri district police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Kumarasan confirmed that a 56-year-old man, the driver of the school van, had been arrested and is now remanded for seven days to assist with investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/...relatedarticles

This post has been edited by Le Don: May 4 2025, 02:49 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The 5-year-old boy who died after being left inside a school van was buried at the Kong Kong Masai Christian Cemetery , Pasir Gudang, today China Press reported.

The victim's parents were overwhelmed with grief as the funeral began around 10am.

The boy's father, Teo Jie, wrote a farewell card with the words "Don't be afraid" and "Daddy loves you."

As he stood by the coffin, tears streamed down his face while he gently whispered, "Don't be afraid, go find Grandpa."

"Don't be afraid, Daddy will always watch over you. Daddy loves you!"

The boy's mother had to be supported by relatives. She was seen continually wiping the coffin with tissues — a gesture that moved many to tears.

As the victim's mother is a Chinese national, the boy's maternal grandmother flew in from China this morning to attend the funeral and accompany her grandson on his final journey.

Despite appearing tired, the grandmother wept throughout the service and declined food despite repeatedly being offered by relatives.

The funeral venue featured touching photographs of the boy's life, along with a slideshow that allowed family and friends to reflect on cherished memories.

The victim was found dead on April 30 in a locked van that he was believed to have been left in for over four hours.

Police have arrested the driver and remanded him to help in investigations.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/...-5-who-died-van

This post has been edited by Le Don: May 4 2025, 02:49 PM

no sue meh?get manyak money oh

Keucaian is not an excuse.
Please prosecute.

Updated

Not easy lor. They drag the court case even lose can keep appeal. After many years get verdict then u need sue again to force them to pay. Again win also the kindergarten can just close it then open again using another name.

Maybe will have settlement

Sometimes is hard to trust somebody with your kids. Maybe is good idea to message kindergarten everyday if your child has arrived at school or not if u use a van driver.

Sigh, so many kes kecuaian. Many people really cannot harap.

Literally this. How the fark could you not check the van first before locking and leaving? Too many times this has happened.

My school last time they will call the parents if you absent, and this was normal SK school. Back then no such thing as "tidak apa" attitude.

easily avoided if skool take attendanxe

Kindergarten I think don't care about attendance

people are too distracted these days. Go everywhere also need to look at phone, use earphone to listen songs, use noise cancellation earphone.

Actually they do. My daughter one will message parents if not in yet by 9am.

RIP...

Maybe need to attach smart GPS device, if don't enter Kindy, alarm goes off.

Or NFC tag needs to be tapped on Kindy door. If didn't tap, alarm goes off

What settlement can be expected from a kindy? Can bring back the dead?
I am pretty sure you will hear from Nancy Shukry soon. After the last kid death due to left in the car, she specifically said n clearly said if a kid is absence without notice, the kindy Must immediately call the registered contact. This was Not followed n resulted in yet another avoidable death. People just don't get it that this kind of loss can destroy families can cause mothers to become mentally unstable n require life long treatment/attention!

This post has been edited by g5sim: May 4 2025, 03:20 PM

airtag

you need airtag, a couple of them real-time location trackers on your young kids

The bus driver got enuf money to pay or not

It's a requirement after the previous death. The menteri herself made this statement.