A two-year-old boy was found dead after being left inside a parked car for about nine hours in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, on Tuesday.
The child had been left in the vehicle since around 8am and was only discovered at about 5pm, after his mother finished work.
The incident occurred behind a bank near Jalan Tunku Hassan, where the mother, a 35-year-old woman, had parked her car before heading to work at a nearby bank.
Public Alerted Police at 6.15pm
Seremban District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Azahar Abdul Rahim said police received a MERS 999 call at around 6:15pm from a member of the public who noticed an unconscious child inside a car.
When officers arrived at the scene, the toddler was found unresponsive inside a white Proton Saga.
Mother Only Realised After Work
According to preliminary investigations, the child’s mother had forgotten to send her son to the babysitter before going to work that morning.
She only realised what had happened at around 5pm, after finishing work.
“ It is believed the victim’s mother inadvertently left him in the vehicle at 8:00 AM after forgetting to drop him off at the babysitter’s,” ACP Azahar said.
Boy Pronounced Dead, Autopsy Ordered
A medical team from Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital later pronounced the boy dead.
His body was subsequently sent to Rembau Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Mother Arrested, Case Under Child Act
Police have arrested the mother to assist with investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which relates to child neglect.
Doctor shares tips to prevent similar tragedies
Following the incident, Malaysian health content creator Dr Kamarul Ariffin Nor Sadan shared several preventive measures on Facebook, warning that such cases are often the result of accidental negligence.
“This is not the first time this has happened. It can happen to anyone, including our own children,” he said.
His tips include:
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Avoid placing the child’s car seat directly behind the driver, as it creates a blind spot
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Always check the entire cabin, including the back seat, before locking the car
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Place a brightly coloured stuffed toy in the front seat as a visual reminder
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Keep the child’s bag in the front passenger seat
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Put essential items in the back seat, such as work bags, keys, ID cards, or even one shoe
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Use a physical tag or label on the driver’s door to indicate a child is in the car
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Ask babysitters or daycare centres to call if a child does not arrive on time
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Set phone alarms or reminders whenever travelling with a child
This case has once again sparked renewed calls for greater awareness and routine safety checks to prevent similar tragedies from happening.
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