Agent sues club over son’s death

By CHRISTINA TAN

SHAH ALAM: The father of a four-year-old boy who drowned 16 months ago after falling into a swimming pool has filed a negligence suit against Danau Permai Resort Bhd. 

Cha Teck Seng claimed that the Kota Permai Golf and Country Resort, owned by Danau Permai Resort Bhd, was required to ensure that the premises were safe.  

Still grieving: Teck Seng holding a photograph of Kee Zhe with Teo beside him at the Shah Alam courthouse yesterday.

The 44-year-old real estate agent filed the suit, on behalf of his son Kee Zhe, at a High Court here yesterday seeking compensation from Danau Permai Resort Bhd. 

Teck Seng is seeking RM6,620 in special damages, and bereavement, general, aggravated and exemplary damages as well as costs. 

In his statement of claim, Teck Seng, a club member, said he took his family to the club on Dec 10, 2005, at about 6.20pm. 

He said his son was playing in the children's pool with his brother and sister, then aged 11 and nine respectively, while his wife, Teo Mooi Kim, 42, watched them from the poolside. 

“He slipped and fell into the 1.2m deep adult's swimming pool around 7.15pm. No lifeguard saw the incident. 

“Instead he was taken out of the pool by a woman who shouted for help and only then did two lifeguards appear,” he said. 

Kee Zhe was rushed to a nearby clinic by his mother, but was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Teck Seng, represented by counsel Keppy Wong Khai Pun, alleged that the way the club pools were designed was dangerous. 

The children's pool, jacuzzi and adult's pool were connected without any barrier or divider between the two shallow pools and the deeper adult pool, he said. 

“There were no lifeguards at the time of the incident although there were two lifeguard towers at the pool area,” he said, adding that the lifeguards were inexperienced at providing first aid. 

He said the management of the defendant also failed to provide vehicles for an emergency and did not call the hospital after finding out about the incident. 

Outside the court Teck Seng said he hoped that such an incident would not be repeated anywhere else. 

“We miss him so much that we don’t even mention his name when we are at home because it is just too painful,” said the weeping father.  

“I grew up in a fishing village in Tanjung Sepat and I loved swimming from young and I wanted my children to learn how to swim. Now, we have lost interest in swimming.”