Girl injured by falling classroom ceiling fan awarded RM6,000

2026-03-26 - 08:51

The magistrates’ court in Perak said the risk of a ceiling fan falling was reasonably foreseeable. (Pexels pic) KUALA LUMPUR: The Selama magistrates’ court in Perak has ordered the government and four other parties to pay RM6,000 in damages to a Year Two pupil who was injured after a ceiling fan fell on her during class. Magistrate R Prabakaran ruled in favour of a lawsuit filed in January 2024 by the girl’s father against the school principal, the Larut Matang and Selama district education office, the Perak state education department, the education director-general and the government. The court found that the first to fourth defendants failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the fan was safe and properly maintained. The damages cover general compensation for pain and suffering. However, claims for special, punitive, and exemplary damages were dismissed. In his written judgment dated March 23, Prabakaran said the risk of a ceiling fan falling was reasonably foreseeable. “The failure did not occur without cause but is usually linked to factors such as poor maintenance, wear and tear, or faulty installation. Therefore, it is a risk that could reasonably be anticipated by the school,” he said. The court also rejected the school’s reliance on informal “see and listen” checks by teachers to detect faults, noting such measures were insufficient. While the defence claimed regular maintenance had been carried out, no records or public works department reports were submitted to support the claim. The court accepted medical testimony confirming that the pupil suffered a a fracture to the second metacarpal of her left hand and soft tissue injuries to her chest. She has since fully recovered. The incident occurred around 10am on Oct 18, 2022, in a classroom at a Selama primary school. Three other students sustained minor injuries.