PAS Senator Mohd Apandi Mohamad has been at the receiving end of brickbats after he suggested that South Korean dramas may contribute to teenage suicides in Malaysia.
He said that this was because many of these shows tend to depict suicide as an option for individuals who have failed in life.
He said this during a Dewan Negara sitting yesterday after PKR Senator Fadhlina Sidek had requested an immediate intervention on the current mental health crisis faced by the nation.
“Many of the teenagers who commit suicide - whether you agree or not - are compelled by Korean films and dramas.
“[…] Agree or not, when there’s a failure, there is suicide. Failure, then suicide.
“Is it because they are influenced by these Korean dramas?” Apandi (above) said.
Other factors
In response, Fadhlina said that while she agreed that Korean dramas contained those elements, there were many other factors that caused suicides among teenagers, including the role of the media.
She said ethics was important, and that the media was responsible for adhering to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on suicide reporting.
Apandi’s words sparked uproar on the internet, with many netizens requesting data and research to back his claims.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also took to Twitter, labelling the PAS senator “insensitive” for his comments.
DAP’s Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim also joined the chorus by asking which Korean films Apandi had been watching.
“What movies had this PAS Senator (been) watching?” he said.
He pointed out to an announcement on Korean drama ‘Squid Game’ becoming Netflix’s biggest original debut, asking if it was one of the films the senator was referring to.
As of July this year, South Korea topped suicide rates among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member nations and in recent years, several Korean celebrities and media personalities have taken their lives with reasons including depression, cyber-bullying and the pressures of public life.
This has led to the South Korean government developing plans to increase the number of psychological consultations for Korean celebrities.
On Sept 20, it was revealed at the Dewan Rakyat that 1,426 suicides in Malaysia had been recorded in the two and a half years between Jan 1, 2019 and July 31, 2021 — about 1.86 cases daily.
According to the government, the main motive for suicide was depression (27.99 percent), followed by financial problems (15.87 percent).
The majority (1,358) of those who committed suicide were in the 19 to 40 age group.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government’s move towards decriminalising suicide is the first step in efforts to improve mental healthcare in the country, adding that treatment for mental health issues is the way to move forward.
If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, please call the following hotlines:
Talian Kasih
Hotline: 15999
The Befrienders
Hotline: 03-76272929
Agape Counselling Centre Malaysia
Hotline: 03-77855955 or 03-77810800
Life Line Association Malaysia
Hotline: 03-42657995
The Health Ministry and Mercy Malaysia have also set up a psycho-social support line for frontline workers and others who are emotionally affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The line can be reached at 011-63996482, 011-63994236 or 03-9359935, from 8am to 5pm. - Mkini
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