Sinking in silence

Water babies: Young children getting swimming lessons. The writer believes basic water survival skills and swimming lessons should be Integrated into the national school curriculum. — Tribune News Service

IT’S our national paradox: surrounded by water, yet so many of our citizens are drowning in it. While we delight in our pristine beaches, shimmering lakes, and inviting public pools, a silent epidemic is claiming lives beneath the surface. The statistics are not just numbers; they are our sons, daughters, friends, and neighbours, and they demand our immediate attention.

World Health Organisation data showed Malaysia recorded 255 drowning deaths in 2022, while the Fire and Rescue Department reported 258 cases last year.