Translate
15 May 2019
Lawmakers distressed over teen suicide believed spurred by Instagram poll in Sarawak
Lawmakers distressed over teen suicide believed spurred by Instagram poll
Azril Annuar
Malay Mail15 May 2019
Ramkarpal questioned how social media users could condone and openly encourage the girl to kill herself. — AFP picMore
KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman voiced deep concern today about the state of Malaysian youths’ mental health following the suicide of a 16-year old teenager in Batu Kawah, Sarawak.
On Twitter, the minister said the incident yesterday, which was linked to an Instagram poll, must prompt urgent contemplation in the country.
“I am genuinely worried about the state of our youth’s mental health. It’s a national issue which must be taken seriously. A national discussion must take place. I’m free at 5.30pm on Friday.
“Let’s dialogue at the IIUM (International Islamic University) Econs Cafe,” Syed Saddiq said while extending an invitation to break fast with him.
Separately, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh urged the government to investigate interactions on the deceased teen’s social media accounts, saying the suicide appeared to follow an online poll she had initiated.
He pointed out that 69 per cent of the teenager’s Instagram followers had reportedly voted for the late teen to take her own life.
“In the circumstances, I urge the authorities, particularly the Communications and Multimedia Ministry to investigate the social media accounts of the victim and the circumstances that led to her death to prevent further abuse of social media in similar circumstances in the future.
“With respect, classifying the case as sudden death at this stage may not be the right decision without such further investigations,” he said in a statement.
The DAP National Legal Bureau chairman noted that under Malaysian law, attempted suicide is a criminal offence, which could mean that supporting it may be construed as abetment.
Although Ramkarpal acknowledged that it is still too early to determine the reason behind the girl’s death, it was possible she had suffered from depression and decided that suicide was the way out.
He further noted that in a 2017 case in the US, a woman was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend to kill himself, but stressed that he was not saying the two incidents were directly comparable.
However, he questioned how social media users could condone and openly encourage the girl to kill herself.
“Various questions arise from this unfortunate incident. Would the girl still be alive today if the majority of netizens on her Instagram account discouraged her from taking her own life?
“Would she have heeded the advice of netizens to seek professional help had they done so? Did the encouragement of those netizens actually influence her decision to take her own life?” Ramkarpal said.
Yesterday, the teen reportedly jumped off a building after the poll uploaded at 3pm on the same day ended.
The poll was titled “Really important, help me choose D/L”, with D denoting a vote for death while L stood for life.
A group of men found her body at around 8 pm yesterday.
Padawan district police chief Aidil Bolhassan said the girl had also uploaded a Facebook status post saying: “Wanna quit f**king life i’m tired”; she had also wished her friends well on her WeChat status.
Aidil told the press the teenager had a close relationship with her stepfather but was emotionally distraught after he married another woman and rarely came home.
The teen’s body was taken to Sarawak General Hospital for an autopsy.
The police said they have detected no criminal elements in the case yet and have classified it as sudden death.
* In Malaysia, suicide helpline Befrienders offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day via 03-79568145.
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS Bernama 18/10/2024 The government allocated RM470 million...
-
Bursa Malaysia dibuka meningkat, jejak prestasi semalaman pasaran AS Bernama 15/10/2024 Pada 9.06 am, indeks petunjuk utama FTSE Bursa Malay...
-
Bursa Malaysia ditutup tinggi susulan aktiviti membeli saham berharga rendah Bernama 17/10/2024 Pada 5 petang, FBM KLCI meningkat 0.54 pera...
-
Amaran ribut petir di lapan negeri, KL dan Putrajaya hari ini Bernama 15/10/2024 Berdasarkan amaran yang dimuat naik di media sosial jabatan...
-
Bekas ejen perumahan didakwa pecah amanah duit penyewa rumah RM2,117 Bernama 17/10/2024 Hakim Azrul Darus membenarkan tertuduh diikat jamin...
-
Tanah runtuh Taman Melawati: Lebih 300 penduduk dipindah ke dewan serba guna - Polis Astro Awani 15/10/2024 Kejadian kira-kira pukul 10.30 p...
-
PM Anwar tinjau persiapan Belanjawan 2025 Bernama 17/10/2024 \ Semasa tinjauan kira-kira setengah jam itu, Perdana Menteri turut beramah me...
-
A new documentary on Indonesian pop queen Datuk Seri Rossa Roslaina Handiyani or Rossa, explores her journey in music, career, and lov...
-
Sidang Dewan Rakyat tangguh 30 minit, Ahli Parlimen 'sangkut' dalam banjir Astro Awani 15/10/2024 Johari Abdul berkata, penangguhan...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS Bernama 18/10/2024 The government allocated RM470 million...
-
Tourism Malaysia lancar jualan tengah malam untuk warga Singapura sempena Deepavali di JB Bernama 12/10/2024 Edisi pertama Jualan Tengah Mal...
-
Malaysia raih jualan lebih RM400 juta di Ekspo China-ASEAN 2024 Bernama 03/10/2024 Abu Bakar berkata Matrade kekal fokus dalam menyokong pe...
-
Indecent dress run: Three men were arrested to help with the investigation Screen capture of participants dressed indecently in the 2024 Pa...
-
Bekas CEO 1MDB bukan saksi yang boleh dipercayai - Peguam Najib Bernama 30/09/2024 Wan Azwan Aiman, yang mewakili Najib, berkata saksi pend...
-
Bursa Malaysia dibuka meningkat, jejak prestasi semalaman pasaran AS Bernama 15/10/2024 Pada 9.06 am, indeks petunjuk utama FTSE Bursa Malay...
-
Paip pecah, sebahagian KL tiada air - Air Selangor Astro Awani 08/10/2024 Pengguna boleh mendapatkan maklumat berhubung gangguan bekalan air...
-
Bursa Malaysia ditutup tinggi susulan aktiviti membeli saham berharga rendah Bernama 17/10/2024 Pada 5 petang, FBM KLCI meningkat 0.54 pera...
Blog Archive
-
▼
2019
(4089)
-
▼
May 2019
(315)
- MH17: Where is the evidence Russia is responsible,...
- Windscreen-smashing biker gets 12 months in the sl...
- All Felda settlers will get a special Hari Raya as...
- When Lagu Raya Is Translated Into English by Says....
- MACC to quiz Zahid and Hisham after Raya
- Forget traffic jams and head home in a helicopter ...
- America's Got Talent 2019 - Kodi Lee's Golden Buzz...
- Future of Malaysia-Japan relationship - Mahathir b...
- Tun Dr. Mahathir Disambut Di Tokyo Jepun
- Police arrest suspect in Serdang road rage incident
- Three people were charged in the Sessions Court he...
- Notice published for relevant parties to claim sei...
- 3 suspected IS militants arrested after anti-terro...
- “In the name of justice, there is no barrier,” say...
- EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS: Chelsea vs Arsenal (4-1) UEFA...
- Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Speech In...
- Sponsor calls out actress and TV host Neelofa for ...
- A hostel warden was sentenced to jail for 133 year...
- Viral video featuring a few young men urinating on...
- The Federal Territories Ministry has appointed six...
- Witness says KWAP released RM2b before govt guarantee
- Two high-end condominiums in New York City alleged...
- Pakistan PM Imran Khan secures the return of 315 P...
- A Chinese Grab driver’s kind gesture towards a fas...
- Celebrity chef Fikree Aznan in hot soup after his ...
- A man was arrested for molesting a woman at an MRT...
- Mariam Mokhtar Looks at Malaysia's Intelligence Ag...
- Bank Negara Malaysia has refuted the claim by the ...
- Pemergian penyanyi veteran Datuk Dahlan Zainuddin ...
- A Nigerian man was charged with the murder of Serd...
- IGP: Police ready to re-probe reports against ex-t...
- A Road Transport Department (JPJ) officer is faci...
- PPBM Boleh Guna nama BERSATU - Sidang media Tun Dr...
- RM3.95bil loan did not follow KWAP procedural requ...
- The Federal Court has allowed Samirah Muzaffar, th...
- The issue on a significant rise in electricity bil...
- Fugitive Jho Low implicated in K-pop sex scandal
- Lawyer Syazlin Mansor should not have withdrawn he...
- Former Tune Talk telco CEO Jason Lo threatened leg...
- BEST FBKL's Top 4 places to Buka Puasa / Iftar dur...
- Not all cases involving the former telco chief exe...
- A former policeman turned to organised crime and b...
- An online petition has been launched to urge the g...
- Hype with a 45-second VIDEO teaser that featured t...
- The Federal Court will be having a panel of seven ...
- The corruption trial of former Federal Territories...
- Popular singer from the 1970s era Datuk Dahlan Zai...
- Kampung Chicken Buyers beware: Ahead of Raya, bree...
- Seri Paduka Baginda Agong - BERANGKAT PULANG KE IS...
- Rocker Edrie Hashim comes under fire for criticisi...
- Johor PPBM announces new leadership lineup, but wh...
- Massive operation soon to flush out illegal Africans
- A company suspected of faking the whitelisting of ...
- Attorney General is representing the government - ...
- The man who mowed down marathon runner Evelyn Ang ...
- PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has apologised for a c...
- Police arrested 10 suspected GROs (guest relations...
- Taktik Pelacur Dalam Cermin Jadi Strategi Khidmat ...
- Peguam Syazlin Mansor tarik diri daripada inkues Adib
- Ziarah Mahabbah Ustaz Azhar Idrus Bertemu Tuan Gur...
- Inter sneak into Champions League after dramatic f...
- Woman traumatised after attack by 6m long python
- OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd is leading a consortium o...
- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has reaffirmed that its ...
- Tak tahan didera, isteri tikam suami hingga mati
- Splendid 'Santapan DiRaja' themed buffet for Buka ...
- Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took some t...
- Support for a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) move t...
- Former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisatio...
- Explosion injures 13 in central Lyon
- Op Selamat: Don’t try to outsmart the police, warn...
- Anggota polis belum terlambat selagi belum pakai b...
- 9 held after tested positive for drugs in traffic ops
- Teenage Captain of Yeovil Town with Malaysian heri...
- Firemen to get 15,000 new fireproof suits after Raya
- ROYAL Caribbean International’s largest and newest...
- The US Embassy here says applications for US visas...
- A hip-hop music video featuring former prime minis...
- Ex Telco CEO and Musician allegedly molested own kids
- Results for India's general election released on 2...
- BJP candidate Smriti Irani manages historic win in...
- SPB AGONG XVI - MAJLIS TAHLIL HARI KEDUA DI MAKAM
- Newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester ...
- Top 5 Popular Food in Ramadan bazaars that you mus...
- Thai police have arrested a man carrying a fake Ma...
- The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) denied allegation...
- The fuel price of RON97 will increase by eight sen...
- Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has apologised to the ...
- The decision of DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang to withd...
- Bapa 'cover' sedih cerita kepada jiran kejadian 6 ...
- Ipoh City Council is standing by its action in the...
- Airlines now required to publish the final price o...
- Jakarta protests: Second night of violence
- Court here issued an arrest warrant for former Mal...
- Tak Salam?
- Task force to look into Suhakam's findings over di...
- Perjalanan terakhir Almarhum Paduka Ayahanda Sulta...
- A team from Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investig...
- The two militant expert bomb makers arrested, have...
- Huawei is in talks with Aptoide to potentially rep...
-
▼
May 2019
(315)