Boy, 12, clinging on to life after masked men set him on fire
THE STAR
KOTA BARU: A 12-year-old boy is fighting for his life after an attack by two masked men, who doused him with petrol before setting him on fire.
Heriey Hanif Kamaruzi is being warded at the intensive care unit of the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital for first degree burns all over his body.
Family members remain baffled over the attack on the Year 6 pupil of SK Pulau Gajah, which took place here on Friday evening.
However, the boy’s mother Mazni Che Hussain, 33, admitted that the masked men had asked Heriey Hanif for the whereabouts of his father before they doused him with petrol.
“I suspect this was an act of revenge by someone who may have issues with my husband. I really can’t say anything more than that,” said the mother of five, who runs an online multi-level marketing business.
Her husband, 39, works as a labourer.
Mazni said Heriey Hanif suffered burns on almost a third of his upper body.
“He was playing alone in front of the house at about 6pm. Suddenly, two men on a motorcycle stopped beside him, poured the petrol and set him on fire,” she said at her home in Kampung Pulau Gajah yesterday.
The attackers then fled the scene.
“I still do not know why they did it,” she added.
Following the incident, Mazni said her son dashed into the house screaming in pain. His aunt quickly put out the flames engulfing his body and rushed him to the hospital.
“Plastic surgery will only be possible in a week or two. Doctors told us that surgery will only be performed if my son’s condition is stable,” Mazni said.
A police report has been lodged at the Pengkalan Chepa police station.
Kelantan CID chief Asst Comm Mohamad Fakri Che Sulaiman said the motive of the attack was being investigated.
No suspect has been picked up so far.
