KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Parents of SK Ampang pupils expressed their dissatisfaction over the school's poor regard for the children's safety, even after one of its students, Khairul Azriel Abdul Razak, 11, died after falling into a drain in front of the school.

Khairul Azriel's father, Abdul Razak Yunus, said the tragedy could have been avoided if the large opening to the drain had been covered with a grille.

Norazeera Abdul Aziz, mother of two pupils in the school, said that the school's surveillance over its students was very disappointing.

“They get the students to stay back for compulsory co-curricular activities, and yet they did not bother to monitor these children,” said Norazeera.

“There have been two occasions where they cancelled the co-curricular activities due to the weather, but did not bother to inform the parents or keep the children in the hall so they could be monitored.” 

Sarinah Mohd Hal, 45, who has three children studying at the school, said she was still shaken by the tragedy.

“The school is in charge of the students' safety during school hours.

“So how can they let an 11-year-old go to the big monsoon drain without supervision?”

Sarinah said she and other parents were upset that the school authorities had not taken any steps to ensure the children's safety, even after the tragedy.

“They still let the pupils walk and play around the drain unsupervised.

“They have not put anything to obstruct anyone from falling into the drain, or even have a security guard to keep students away,” she said.

The drain, with an opening over a metre long and 38cm wide, was big enough even for an adult to enter.

Khairul Azriel's mother, Norliza Zaabah, said she had gone to the school at 1.15pm on Wednesday to pick him up, but left after her son told her that he had to stay in school for co-curricular activities.

“The school did not inform me when they cancelled the activity,” she said.