(Kluang, July 15) The death of a Year One pupil killed in a school bus accident in Kluang, Johor, has cast a shadow over the community of Taman Sri Lalang and sparked fresh debate about the adequacy of child safety measures in Malaysia’s school transport system.
The boy, who was in his first year of primary school, was run over by the school bus that had moments earlier let him off near his home on Jalan Bunga Raya 3 in Taman Sri Lalang. The accident occurred at around 4.20pm when the bus driver — a 36-year-old woman — began turning the vehicle after the child had alighted. The boy was still on the road to the left side of the bus when the vehicle turned, and was struck and run over as a result. He sustained catastrophic head injuries and was found to have died before paramedics reached the scene.
Kluang district police chief Barin issued a statement confirming the details of the incident and outlining the next steps in the investigation. The driver, who fainted at the scene after witnessing the accident, was hospitalised and is currently recovering. Police have stated that a urine drug test will be conducted upon her discharge to determine whether any substances were present in her system at the time of the accident.
The investigation is being conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, the provision dealing with reckless or dangerous driving causing death. Child safety advocates have called on the authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the regulations governing school bus operations, including mandatory safety checks, driver training requirements and protocols for managing passengers during drop-off.