After two children die in high-rise falls, Suhakam pleads for urgent action

Summary

• Children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki says these consecutive tragedies are not isolated accidents.

• She adds that their loss is a direct result of systemic negligence in prioritising child safety.

Following the tragic deaths of two children who fell from their high-rise homes in Puchong and Putrajaya within days of each other last month, Suhakam has urged the government and all stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action.

Suhakam’s children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki said these consecutive tragedies are not isolated accidents.

“They are preventable deaths that highlight a serious failure to implement essential safety measures in high-rise residential buildings.

“These children did not have to die. Their loss is a direct result of systemic negligence in prioritising child safety where it matters most: at home,” she added in a statement.

Farah said as a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Malaysia is legally obligated to safeguard every child’s right to life, development, and protection from foreseeable harm.

“A safe home environment is not a privilege - it is a fundamental right and a legal and moral responsibility,” she emphasised.

“These deaths were not mere accidents - they were preventable tragedies. The lack of basic safety features in high-rise homes directly contributed to the loss of innocent lives. This is unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold children’s rights,” she added.

Safety measures

The children’s commissioner called on the government - both at the federal and state levels - and all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action by implementing the following measures to prevent further tragedies:

1. Legislation and safety regulations.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry must introduce specific legislation to enhance child safety in high-rise residential buildings.

This includes mandating the installation of safety grilles or protective mesh on all windows and balconies, including those in rental units.

Minimum safety design standards for child-friendly high-rise living should be incorporated into existing building laws and regulations.

2. Mandatory child-safety design standards.

The ministry and local authorities (PBT) must revise building design guidelines to ensure child safety features are integrated as compulsory components in all high-rise residential developments.

3. Public awareness and education campaigns.

NGOs, Joint Management Bodies (JMBs), and Management Corporations of high-rise buildings should lead public awareness campaigns on home safety, especially targeting parents, caregivers, and communities.

These campaigns should be included in community health programmes and actively promoted by health visitors, particularly in households with young children.

4. Regular and strict compliance inspections.

Local authorities must carry out frequent inspections of high-rise residential properties - especially rental units - to ensure compliance with established child safety standards and requirements.

These deaths were not mere accidents - they were preventable tragedies. The lack of basic safety features in high-rise homes directly contributed to the loss of innocent lives. This is unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold children’s rights.

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LETTER | Keep our kids safe