MALACCA: AN electrical leak from a faulty overhead cable caused the death of 8-year-old Mariam Najwa Massaari, who was electrocuted while she was playing in a shallow pool of water two days ago.

Malaysian Energy Commission (enforcement and regional coordination) director Othman Omar said this was the outcome of the investigation into Wednesday's incident at Kampung Gedung Lalang, Bukit Rambai.

He said Tenaga Nasional Berhad had been ordered to replace the cable immediately and directed to check other power cables in the area.

Mariam, a Year Two pupil of SM Taman Bukit Rambai, was playing with her 3-year-old brother, Muiz Asyraf, in the shallow pool when she was electrocuted.

Muiz was lucky to have escaped with a mild jolt of electricity.

The father, Massaari Muhammad, 35, had also felt the jolt of electricity when he retrieved Mariam's lifeless body from the shallow pool. He rushed the girl to the nearby Desa Bukit Rambai clinic where she was pronounced dead.

Met at his home yesterday, Massaari said he planned to sue Tenaga Nasional for negligence.

"When I was at the mortuary, I was told by a neighbour that Tenaga employees had replaced the cable. But it was too late.

"My wife also informed me a Tenaga Nasional employee had come to our house on the day of the incident and had told her Tenaga Nasional was not responsible for Mariam's death. If not for the faulty cable, there would have been no electrical leak," he said.

Massaari said he had lodged a police report and would submit an official complaint to the Malaysian Energy Commission.