Cases of such parental neglect include allowing their underage children to drive, leaving them alone at home or inside vehicles, and neglecting to oversee their activities until these result in drowning during bathing, falling inside fish ponds or getting entangled in cradles.

Some even accidentally hit their children while reversing their cars.

Data shared by the Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) showed that there were 163 deaths involving children between 2018 and May this year that could partly have been due to the parents' negligence. The numbers do not include those involving fatal accidents by unlicensed underage drivers.

Bukit Aman D11 Principal Assistant Director, ACP Siti Kamsiah Hassan said she believed that negligent parents should at least face some form of punishment.

"For me, punishment should be given at the bare minimum, at least, to serve as a lesson and to ensure that this does not recur," she said.

Read further on The Star's article attached.