You’ll want the facts up front: an 11-year-old boy died and his two younger brothers were rushed to intensive care after their mother allegedly fed them liquid methadone in Kajang, Malaysia. Authorities say the siblings were found unconscious and taken to Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital, where the eldest was pronounced dead and the others listed in critical condition. This piece explains what happened, what investigators are doing, and what methadone can do to children so you can understand the risks and the unfolding legal response.
The article will walk through the timeline of the incident, the police and hospital statements, and how the community and media have reacted. It will also outline methadone’s legitimate medical uses alongside the dangers it poses to children when misused or accidentally ingested.
Details of the Incident
Three children were reportedly given a liquid later identified as methadone at their home; one boy died and two brothers remain in critical condition in hospital. Authorities arrested a 35-year-old woman in Kajang and the children were treated at Hospital Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
Timeline of Events
According to police statements and local reports, the incident unfolded on the morning of February 11, 2026. The three boys—aged 11, 9, and 5—fell ill at their house in Sungai Ramal Baru after allegedly being given a liquid substance.
Family members or neighbors alerted emergency services once the children became unresponsive. Police say the eldest was pronounced dead after being taken to Hospital Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
The two younger boys were rushed to the same facility and admitted to the intensive care unit. Investigators detained the mother the same day as part of the initial probe.
Location and Family Involved
The event took place in Sungai Ramal Baru, a residential area in Kajang, Selangor. Neighbors described the property as a family home where the three boys lived with their parents.
Police identified the primary suspect as a 35-year-old woman residing at that address; reports indicate the husband was also detained later. Local coverage notes the children’s ages specifically as 11, 9, and 5.
Authorities have not released full family details publicly pending investigation. The neighborhood and local authorities have been cooperative with police inquiries.
Current Condition of Siblings
Medical teams at Hospital Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin listed the two younger boys in critical condition and placed them in the ICU for close monitoring. Doctors provided supportive care for opioid poisoning, which typically includes respiratory support and administration of antidotes when appropriate.
Hospital staff have not released detailed prognoses publicly, citing patient privacy and ongoing treatment. Relatives and community members remain at the hospital while authorities work with medical teams to determine next steps.
Officials indicated the eldest child had been declared dead after arrival, and postmortem or toxicology results are expected to clarify timing and cause.
Emergency Response
Emergency responders arrived after neighbors contacted authorities when the children became sick. Paramedics transported all three children to Hospital Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin in Kajang for urgent care.
Hospital staff placed the two surviving children in the intensive care unit and provided life-saving measures typical for suspected opioid ingestion. Police officers secured the scene and conducted an initial investigation at the Sungai Ramal Baru residence.
Selangor police have confirmed arrests connected to the case and said a full media statement would be released as investigators compile evidence and await forensic and toxicology findings.
Investigation and Legal Actions
Authorities confirmed the immediate actions taken at the hospital and the arrests made; investigators continue gathering evidence and assessing potential criminal charges.
Police Involvement and Statements
Selangor police officers from the Kajang district responded after medical staff notified them of three children brought to Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital early on February 11. Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar publicly confirmed one child had died and two remained in critical condition, and he provided basic details about the case in a statement reported by local media.
Investigators secured the scene in Sungai Ramal Buru and collected physical evidence and witness statements. Officials described the suspected substance as liquid methadone; that identification has shaped investigative steps because methadone is a regulated medication and its presence raises controlled-drugs considerations. Police said they acted promptly to detain persons of interest after the hospital alert.
Arrest of Parents
Authorities detained a 35-year-old woman in connection with the children’s poisoning; reports indicate both parents were subsequently arrested. The mother is alleged to have given the children liquid methadone, and police custody follows standard procedure for serious harm or fatality involving minors.
Officials have not released the suspects’ names or detailed charges beyond noting the homicide and related investigations. Media outlets such as Berita Harian and other Malaysian press have reported the arrests; police statements indicate interrogation and evidence review are ongoing to determine whether charges will include murder, attempted murder, or negligence causing death.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators are testing the liquid substance and seeking a definitive toxicology report to confirm methadone exposure and dosage levels. Forensic teams are reviewing medical records, staff timelines, home evidence, and any prescription or procurement records tied to opioid treatment programs. Because methadone is dispensed under strict rules, tracing its source—whether lawfully prescribed, diverted from a treatment program, or illegally obtained—remains a priority.
Police continue to interview family members, neighbors, and healthcare workers to establish timing, intent, and the children’s prior medical or social history. Prosecutors will wait for the forensic and toxicology results before finalizing charges. Investigative authorities emphasize preserving chain-of-custody for controlled-drugs evidence.
Legal Implications
If toxicology confirms methadone and investigators link possession to the parents, charges could range from criminal negligence to homicide, depending on intent and recklessness. Malaysian law treats controlled drugs seriously; unauthorized possession, supply, or administration of regulated opioids can carry severe criminal penalties and aggravating factors when victims are children.
Legal teams will likely examine whether the methadone was prescribed and dispensed under the country’s opioid treatment regulations, which affects culpability. Defense and prosecution will focus on intent, knowledge of harm, and adherence to medication controls. Courts may consider prior substance-treatment records, custody issues, and expert testimony on methadone’s effects in determining charges and sentencing.
Methadone: Uses and Risks
Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid used both as a pain reliever and as a controlled replacement for heroin or other opioids. It can reduce withdrawal and cravings but carries serious overdose and poisoning risks, especially for children.
What Is Methadone?
Methadone is a synthetic opioid developed in the 1940s.
It acts on the same brain opioid receptors as heroin and morphine but has a much longer duration of action, often lasting 24 to 36 hours per dose.
Clinically, methadone is available as tablets, liquid solutions, and dispersible forms.
Dose must be individualized and monitored because accumulation over days can increase overdose risk.
As a drug, methadone depresses the respiratory center in the brain.
That respiratory depression is the primary mechanism behind fatal overdoses.
Medical Applications
Methadone is widely used in opioid substitution therapy to treat opioid use disorder.
In substitution programs, it replaces shorter-acting opioids to stabilize patients, reduce illicit use, and lower risky behaviors.
Clinicians start at low doses and titrate slowly while monitoring for sedation and breathing changes.
Methadone is also prescribed for chronic severe pain when other opioids are unsuitable because it provides prolonged analgesia.
Programs require supervised dosing, record-keeping, and sometimes urine testing to prevent diversion.
Because methadone interacts with many drugs (antidepressants, antifungals, some antibiotics), clinicians check medication lists and liver function before and during treatment.
Risks and Dangers for Children
Children are far more vulnerable to methadone than adults.
Even small, accidental ingestions of liquid methadone can cause life-threatening respiratory depression in toddlers and young children.
Symptoms in a child may include extreme sleepiness, slow or irregular breathing, pinpoint pupils, and loss of consciousness.
Emergency treatment requires naloxone administration and supportive respiratory care; delays increase the chance of permanent brain injury or death.
Liquid formulations and concentrated solutions pose special hazards in homes.
Safe storage—locked containers out of reach—and clear labeling are crucial to prevent accidental dosing.
Intentional administration to a child is a criminal act with high fatality risk.
Caregivers should never mix methadone into food or drink; if ingestion is suspected, call emergency services immediately and mention possible methadone exposure.
Community and Media Reactions
Local residents expressed shock and grief, and questions about child safety and methadone storage surfaced quickly. Neighbors described a tight-knit housing area where the family was known but private, and community leaders called for clearer guidance on medication safety.
Local Community Perspectives
Neighbors said the family kept to themselves, though children were seen playing nearby. Several parents reported heightened concern about prescription drug access after the incident, asking local clinics and pharmacies for safer dispensing and clearer labeling.
A neighborhood association organized a small vigil and circulated information on emergency response steps and signs of opioid exposure in children. Local schools alerted counselors to watch for students affected by the news and offered resources for trauma support.
Some community members urged authorities to investigate possible lapses in supervision or treatment oversight. Others emphasized support for the surviving children and criticized media intrusion on grieving relatives.
Media Coverage
National and regional outlets ran factual accounts emphasizing the alleged methadone link and the arrest of the parents. Coverage balanced immediate case details with background on methadone as a treatment for opioid use disorder, citing public-health concerns.
Local papers, including Berita Harian, published updates about police inquiries and hospital status, focusing on the family’s location and official statements from investigators. Broadcast reports used interviews with neighbors and officials to clarify timelines.
Commentary pieces questioned broader policy on methadone distribution and child-safety measures, while crime desks tracked legal developments as prosecutors reviewed charges.
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