World · Malaysia Bureau
Student awarded RM129,000 compensation for burns suffered during school event
A Teluk Intan session court has found a primary school and two teachers negligent following a scalding incident during a porridge-making programme in 2022. The court awarded the student RM129,000 in damages.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Teluk Intan Session Court determined that SK Seri Intan and two educators failed in their duty of care when a student sustained burn injuries during a bubur lambuk (traditional rice porridge) preparation activity at the school in 2022.
The court's findings of negligence against both the educational institution and the individual teachers resulted in the substantial compensation award to the injured student. The case highlights questions about supervision standards and safety protocols during school-based cooking and cultural programmes.
The incident occurred during what appears to have been a planned educational or cultural event at the school. The court's decision underscores the legal responsibility schools bear in protecting students from preventable harm during organised activities, regardless of their educational or cultural merit.
The ruling carries implications for similar programmes conducted in Malaysian schools, where organisers must balance cultural engagement with stringent safety measures to prevent accidents. The compensation amount reflects both the severity of the student's injuries and the court's assessment of institutional accountability in the incident.