Refugee boy thrown off flyover improving, needs surgery to walk again
The boy, who was the only survivor of a tragic incident involving a refugee and his three children on Aug 2, is showing signs of improvement.
The four-year-old and his two older siblings were thrown off the Middle Ring Road 2 highway flyover in Selayang by their father, who after that plunged to his death, police said.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who visited the boy at Hospital Selayang yesterday, said...
The boy, who was the only survivor of a tragic incident involving a refugee and his three children on Aug 2, is showing signs of improvement.
The four-year-old and his two older siblings were thrown off the Middle Ring Road 2 highway flyover in Selayang by their father, who after that plunged to his death, police said.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who visited the boy at Hospital Selayang yesterday, said he has been moved from the intensive care unit to a regular ward.
"He can now open his eyes, recognise his mother and speak," Lim said.
Lim was invited to visit by the boy's mother, who called to seek help with his medical bills.
He sustained a fracture on his hip from the fall and needs surgery so he could walk again.
As a non-citizen, the boy must pay a sizeable fee to be treated at the public hospital.
As such, the MP said he’s committed to finding a way to take care of the entire medical bill.
"I pray that the boy will heal soon and have a good life ahead of him. A small child like this is without sin and should not bear the burden of what adults have done.
"It is my priority to ensure this child is safe and can move again," he said.
The Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) raised RM9,000 to pay for the funerals of the 38-year-old man and his son and daughter.
Fled for safety
The boy's parents had fled Myanmar for Malaysia due to security reasons 10 years ago, were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as refugees and waiting for resettlement plans.
ACR activist Ai John said the boy's father was under a lot of stress because of his inability to find a job and secure identification documents from the UNHCR for his youngest child.
John said that the father had done electrical wiring jobs since moving to Malaysia but could not find work when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.
The man was also said to exhibit signs of depression since last year.
Factors for suicide are complex and cannot always be easily attributed to mental health problems or other issues faced by the deceased.
The World Health Organization considers suicide a public health issue but said it is preventable with early intervention.
The UNHCR said it reached out to the family to assess what they need.
Those seeking to donate to the family can contact the ACR.
If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, please call the following hotlines:
Talian Kasih
Hotline: 15999
The Befrienders
Hotline: 03-76272929
Agape Counselling Centre Malaysia
Hotline: 03-77855955 or 03-77810800
Life Line Association Malaysia
Hotline: 03-42657995
The Health Ministry and Mercy Malaysia have also set up a psycho-social support line for frontline workers and others who are emotionally affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The line can be reached at 014-3223392, 011-63996482, 011-63994236 or 03-29359935, from 8am to 5pm.
For refugees in Malaysia, mental health and psychosocial support services are also available through the UN High Commission for Refugees' partners, listed here.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.