How did a student fall into a sewer pit? The Nilai school tragedy explained

The death of a nine-year-old pupil, Abdul Fattah Khairol Rizal, who fell into an uncovered sewage pit at his school in Lenggeng, Nilai, last Saturday, has raised alarms over safety lapses at public institutions.

The incident prompted a multi-agency investigation and raised questions about accountability and preventive measures.

Abdul Fattah, a Year Three student, fell into the sewer behind a school block at about 9.20am on Sept 27.

According to Negeri Sembilan Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Alzafny Ahmad, eyewitnesses saw the boy slip into the pit before he was pulled out by personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department.

He was rushed to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (TJH) in Seremban for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead.

A father's heartbreaking rescue attempt

Before firefighters arrived, a 35-year-old videographer and father of two, Muhammad Arsyad Jahaya, who was attending a nearby sports event, attempted to rescue the boy.

A teacher had urged him to help due to his swimming ability.

Although initially hesitant because of the depth and foul water in the pit, he dived in after witnesses confirmed the child had fallen.

“At first the water looked calm, as though nothing had happened.

"I wasn’t afraid of going down, but I worried I might be misled, since it was a sewage pit. Once it was confirmed, I knew I had to act," Arsyad was reported as saying.

Arsyad later described to local media the heart-wrenching moment he pulled the boy’s body from the 1.8-metre-deep pit.

He stated that the child felt 'as light as paper'.

"It was as if I was lifting a piece of paper. So light, unlike carrying a person,” he said.

Investigations and conflicting reports

Police have since recorded statements from nine individuals, including teachers, pupils and the complainant.

More statements are being taken from representatives of the Public Works Department (JKR), Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK), and the National Water Services Commission (Span).

"The investigation is ongoing under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (Act 611) and we urge the public to refrain from speculation, as it may hinder the investigation process," Alzafny said.

Authorities also confirmed that there was no closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at the site, which complicates efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events.

In response, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek assured the public that a thorough probe would be conducted and a full report prepared, with preventive measures introduced to ensure no similar tragedies occur.

However, the Public Works Department, which inspected the site after the tragedy, reported that the sewage system was in "good condition" and the manhole cover was intact and without defects.

JKR expressed its condolences and emphasised that it is cooperating with the police.

The department also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any potential hazards.