A Teluk Intan public school was hauled to court over a shoving incident which caused a physically disabled student’s left hand to be drenched in boiling bubur lambuk (spiced rice porridge).

The 15-year-old filed the negligence lawsuit at the Teluk Intan Sessions Court on June 27, targeting two teachers, the headmaster, and the federal government as the four defendants.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to safeguard her safety and well-being during the incident at the school on the morning of April 26, 2022.

She claimed that just before the incident around 8am, one of the teacher-defendants ordered her to step out from her class to take part in cooking bubur lambuk.

“The plaintiff pleads that during the bubur lambuk programme, a student who is not known was shoving, leading the plaintiff to fall (tergelincir jatuh), causing her left hand to be immersed in the large pot containing boiling bubur lambuk.

“Her left arm was severely burnt, causing the plaintiff to scream in pain,” the student claimed in the filing sighted by Malaysiakini.

She claimed that immediately after the mishap, one of the teacher-defendants rubbed an ointment on her arm to supposedly treat the burn, which worsened her injury and caused her to shout loudly in intense pain.

The plaintiff explained that the two teachers and the headmaster did not immediately halt the bubur lambuk cooking activity despite the mishap.

School failed to contact parent immediately

The girl explained that it was only around 11.50am that one of the teachers contacted her father to inform him about the incident.

She said around 10 minutes later, her father picked her up and brought her to a Teluk Intan health clinic for outpatient treatment.

The girl contended, however, that she continued to suffer great pain, leading to her being warded at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak, on April 29, 2022.

She said that she was discharged on May 9, and her father lodged a report at the Teluk Intan police station 16 days later.

The plaintiff claimed that prior to the incident, she was ordered by the teachers and headmaster to wash the cookware and large aluminium pot despite them knowing she was disabled.

The girl claimed that she suffered from post-traumatic syndrome disorder after the incident, which left her with a 2.5 percent deep burn over the left-hand distal forearm, swollenness, and blackish discoloration up to the mid-forearm with multiple blisters which are not blanchable.

Through the civil action, filed through her 50-year-old father, the student is seeking RM4,212 in special damages, as well as unspecified general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, her counsel M Manoharan confirmed that the court papers have been served on the defendants.

Malaysiakini is attempting to reach out to the defendants and their legal representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a response on the matter.

Bumi student enrolment in SJKC nearly doubled in 10 years, says MOE

Bumi student enrolment in SJKC nearly doubled in 10 years, says MOE

Govt committed to building Sungai Bakap Tamil school

Govt committed to building Sungai Bakap Tamil school

Student discipline not the reason for teacher's absence, court told

Student discipline not the reason for teacher's absence, court told

'Teacher shortage does not hinder opening of special education classes'

'Teacher shortage does not hinder opening of special education classes'

MOE probing student's death after falling from school building

MOE probing student's death after falling from school building