Why swimming should be made compulsory

MALAYSIA has always been a nation shaped by water. It surrounds us, sustains us, and at times, challenges us – from the monsoon floods that sweep across our towns to the rivers that run through Sabah and Sarawak. And yet, every year, we lose hundreds of Malaysians to drownings that should never have happened. This is a tragedy of inaction.

Recent figures tell a painful story. We see about 700 drowning cases every year, and nearly 500 involve children and teenagers. Between 2017 and 2021 alone, 591 children aged 0 to 14 lost their lives to drowning – 10 young lives, every month. These are not just numbers. They are sons and daughters, students and friends, futures cut short.