IDAMAN Apartments Joint Management Body (JMB) supervisor Nor Haizam Hidir said hardly anyone goes to the drainage area where the body of autistic child Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin was found, adding the drainage area was not under the building management.

He told The Malaysian Insight the area was also not equipped with closed circuit cameras (CCTV).

“We have four CCTV cameras placed at the entrances and exits of the apartment, surau and hall area as well as the JMB office.

“We are not sure whether the area where the incident happened is private or government-owned land, and it is rarely visited by residents.

“If there are people hanging around there, that is their responsibility,” he said.

The area is located about 200m from the victim’s residence in Blok R in Damansara Damai.

The JMB is now planning to install fences and increase CCTV coverage in the area involved.

JMB’s management and finance executive Norasreta Ibrahim said they did not expect such an incident to happen in their quiet area.

She said the JMB will immediately improve the CCTV system for the safety of the occupants in the 2,484 residential units, including 21 above-ground shop units.

“Previously, crimes were limited to cases like motorcycle thefts or home burglaries. This is the first time a murder has occurred,” she said

One of the residents – who declined to be identified – said most residents do not know about the water drainage route where the child’s body was found.

“We have never passed that area, we were even afraid because it was full of bushes,” he said.

Zayn was found dead in the drainage area a day after his mother made a public announcement on social media and also a police report about his disappearance.

Reports say that the body of the child was found by a local resident who participated in the search operation.

According to the police, the forensic investigations on the body found there were injuries on the neck and body which caused the case to be classified as murder.

The police suspect that the child was killed in another area before being brought to the location.

The police have also recorded the statements of the child’s parents following the new discovery and will retrieve statements of neighbours and witnesses.

Petaling Jaya police chief Mohd Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said that the statements of both Zayn’s parents were taken last night and may be taken again.

“The statements of neighbors and witnesses will also be taken in the near future to complete the investigation.

“We finished taking their statements for the second time last night and will see if we need other information,” he said.

He said that the process of searching for evidence is still being carried out since last night by a special police squad.

“We are also asking the public, especially local residents, who have any information to come forward and help with the investigation.

“Even the smallest bit of information can help,” he said.

The special team’s investigation will focus on an eight-hectare area involving 18 apartment blocks with 2,484 homes and shops, as well as a tributary area.

The police are also analysing all witness statements and information received to track down the suspect, he said. – December 8, 2023