M’sian boy, 12, dies after father refused to send him to hospital for motorcycle crash injuries

A 12-year-old boy in Johor, Malaysia, died from abdominal injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash, after his father refused to send him to the hospital for treatment.

The victim, Muhammad Harith Isyraf Yuzaini, passed away while resting at home at 9pm on Aug. 4, eight hours after the crash, Harian Metro reported.

Victim was riding a motorcycle

The district’s police chief, Bahrin Mohd Noh, said that the victim’s father had discovered his son’s death and filed a police report the following afternoon.

Bahrin stated that, according to the father’s account, the accident occurred while the victim was riding a motorcycle.

"Investigations found that the victim and family members were visiting their uncle's house on Jalan Tengah, Paloh, to pay their respects to someone who had passed away.

Upon arriving at the location, the victim lost control of the motorcycle and skidded, before hitting a curb on the right side of the road.”

Father refused to take him to hospital

Bahrin added that the father initially took the victim to a private clinic in the town of Kluang, then another one in Gelang Pata, where he was referred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) – a government hospital in Johor Bahru.

"However, his father refused to send him to HSA and instead took him home," Bahrin said.

The case is still being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which looks into death caused by dangerous or reckless driving.

Underage motorcycle riding in Malaysia

In Malaysia, the minimum age to obtain a motorcycle driving license is 16, though it is not uncommon to see children riding motorcycles.

There were close to 3,000 accident cases reported between 2008 and 2021 involving children aged six to 15 years, according to Malay Mail, which cited the Malaysian Children Commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki.

“Out of this, 87 cases involved children between the ages of six to 10-years-old who died from accidents as the riders of motorcycles, not as pillions,” she said. A pillion is a seat for a passenger behind a motorcyclist.

Top image via Unsplash & Azrien Sidek/Google Maps