“There’s no tragedy in life like the death of a child. Things never get back to the way they were.”
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President
A two-year-old boy recently fell to his death through an open manhole cover along Jalan Pedada in Sibu.
His father reported the child missing at 6:20 pm after suspecting his son might have fallen into the manhole.
Firefighters from the Sibu station, who rushed to the scene to search for the boy, found his body floating in the sewerage system 35 minutes later – at 6:55 pm.
The toddler was pulled out at 7:00 pm and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The shocking news left me sad. I had many questions in my mind.
What time did the toddler actually fall into the open manhole cover? Why was he allowed to wander out alone? Where were his parents, particularly his mother, at that time? Or was someone else looking after him then?
I also thought of the 40-week-long full-term pregnancy the mother had to undergo to have him, the pain of delivering him and the wide range of tasks involved in looking after him until he was two years old. These included feeding him, changing his diapers, providing a safe environment, and engaging in activities that promoted his development.
Since he was two years old, the toddler would have known the names of his parents, his siblings (if he had any), his body parts and objects. He should be able to say a few words and follow simple instructions.
However, that unlucky day, due to someone’s careless and negligent actions, the unfortunate boy fell into an open manhole cover. It is not known how long he had been lying in the sewer.
Firefighters, who found him unconscious, rushed him to the hospital.
Doctors at the emergency unit, who attended to the toddler, found him soaking wet, pale and unresponsive. The unfortunate kid was later confirmed dead.
Since it is so hard to bring a child into this world, all parents should take good care of the children they have. They are considered blessed compared to the many childless couples who explore various avenues to conceive, including medical treatments like IVF and traditional remedies.
Meanwhile, Sibu police have launched an investigation for suspected negligence into the case.
Sibu Police Chief, ACP Zulkipli Suhaili, said it was being investigated under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect or exposing a child in a manner likely to cause physical or emotional injury.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM20,000, a jail term of up to 10 years or both upon conviction.
A second investigation has also been opened and is classified as a sudden death report (SDR).
Zulkipli explained the case came to the attention of the Sibu Police after receiving a report from a medical officer at Sibu Hospital.
Commenting on the heartbreaking incident, Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang, said it highlighted a long-standing public issue involving missing or unsecured manhole covers.
He called on all relevant authorities, namely, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), the Public Works Department (JKR) Sibu Division, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sibu, to urgently inspect their respective areas and replace any missing or damaged covers without delay.
Tiang said public safety must never be compromised.
The deputy minister also urged the police to take strict enforcement action against those involved in the theft and illegal trade of scrap metals, including manhole covers. He said the irresponsible acts put innocent lives at risk.
In Sarawak, manhole covers are stolen primarily for their scrap metal value. These thefts pose serious safety risks to public as uncovered manholes can cause accidents and injuries.
There is a general perception that authorities have not been proactive enough in preventing the thefts of manhole covers and replacing those that have been stolen.
The toddler’s death due to a missing manhole cover has highlighted the urgency of the situation and promoted calls for actions from local authorities and the public.
There is also increasing pressure for manhole covers made of alternative materials (like non-metallic options) with low scrap value) and for stricter enforcement against scrap metal dealers who accept stolen materials.
Following the heartbreaking death of the toddler in Sibu, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng, and his enforcement officers have gone round to inspect manhole covers in areas under the council’s jurisdiction.
They discovered a number of manhole covers had been left open or were missing.
Wee added that manhole covers were the responsibilities of utility authorities such as Telekom Malaysia, Sarawak Energy Bhd, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak, Kuching Water Board and others.
He expressed deep concern over the issue, stressing that the uncovered manholes posed significant hazards to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
“While MBKS continues to monitor and maintain manholes under its jurisdiction, we have also observed several missing or unsecured covers belonging to other utility providers.
“This matter requires urgent collective action to prevent accidents and ensure public safety,” he said in a statement on August 7.
Wee added that MBKS had formally written to the relevant utility companies, urging them to urgently inspect and replace all missing or damaged manhole covers under their respective purview.
He also urged the public to report any uncovered manholes through the Talikhidmat or iPeople app or by contacting MBKS directly.
Dear friends, an unlucky toddler has fallen to his death through an open manhole cover in Sibu.
To prevent further such tragic deaths, let us all do our part by reporting any damaged or missing manhole covers to the authorities.
Together, we can help make a big difference.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
