KUALA LUMPUR: A man threw his three children off an elevated highway before falling to his death himself.
Prior to the tragedy that struck early yesterday, someone saw the man carrying a child on his back. The other two youngsters were walking alongside their father, holding his hands.
Then he flung them off the highway, near the Desa Jaya traffic light, below the MRR2 Highway within the Kepong area.
He jumped shortly after that, falling about 20m to the ground.
Three of them died following the fall – the man, an eight-year-old girl and a boy believed to be around six to seven years old.
Another boy, possibly about five years old, survived the fall. It is believed that he was the child that was being carried on the back and was the first to be thrown off the highway.
Apparently, he landed on a grassy patch near the curb of the road.
As at press time, the boy is being treated for serious injuries at the intensive care unit of Hospital Selayang.
In a statement yesterday, Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Beh Eng Lai said the police were informed of the tragedy at 5.50am.
All the victims had been identified as Myanmar nationals.
“We believe that the man was the children’s father,” he said.
When contacted later, ACP Beh said the father and the girl were found with their United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.
The children’s mother had yet to be found, he said.
Anyone with information should contact investigating officer ASP Baldev Singh Gurdial Singh at 012-480 6062 or the Sentul police operations room at 03-4048 2222.
Those suffering from problems can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service at 03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392; Talian Kasih at 15999 or 019-261 5999; Jakim’s (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) family, social and community care centre at 0111-959 8214; and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur at 03-7627 2929 or go to befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers nationwide and operating hours, or email sam@befrienders.org.my.