RANTAU PANJANG: A 9-year-old girl was found dead in her home in Kampung Gual To’Deh, a flood-affected area, on Sunday. Her mother was also discovered immobile, believed to have suffered a stroke.
The victim’s brother, Muhammad Denish Alfi Abd Talib, 14, shared that his sister, Nur Iezarra, had complained of severe neck pain and cried in distress around midnight on Saturday. She later went to the bathroom at about 1:30 a.m. before he offered to sleep with her in the living room.
According to Muhammad Denish Alfi, Nur Iezarra appeared to be in extreme pain and possibly having a seizure. He tried to comfort her by rubbing her body and advising her to stay calm. Their mother, Yusnieta Mohd Lawi, 40, who was also unwell, recited Quranic verses to soothe the child before she seemingly fell asleep.
The tragedy unfolded the following morning when Muhammad Denish Alfi noticed his sister lying face down outside their mother’s room. She remained unmoved until noon. At around 12:15 p.m., he attempted to lift her but found her body stiff, prompting him to check on their mother, who also appeared unresponsive. He discovered that her left arm was limp, resembling symptoms of a stroke.
Panicked, Muhammad Denish Alfi alerted his father, Abd Talib Abdullah, 42, who was not home at the time. The family sought help from villagers to contact emergency services. Rescue teams transported the victims, including the unconscious mother, to Pasir Mas Hospital using a truck due to flooding in the area.
Pasir Mas district police chief Assistant Commissioner Kama Azural Mohamed confirmed the incident. A medical examination revealed bruises on the victim’s lower cheek and right ear, and she was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy while providing assistance to the grieving family.
