Apparent Penang Bridge Suicide Victim Is Cautionary Tale Against Young Marriages

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IN a recent tragic incident, a 25-year-old man reportedly met his demise after jumping off the Penang Bridge.
According to earlier media reports, the man identified as Elmi Nur Zamani Aizat Abdul Azim was last seen at KM2.8 of the Penang Bridge after having travelled from the island towards Perai.
He reportedly left behind a plastic bag containing his laundry and mobile phone on Nov 18 while his Yamaha Y16 motorcycle was found abandoned by the roadside (along the bridge).

Alas, this tragedy has also left a 19-year-old woman a widow and two young children – with a third on the way – bereft of their father.
It was noted on Penang Traffic’s Facebook post that if ever one was feeling stressed or pressurised, just reach out to close friends for help. Do not take matters into your own hands, one saddened commenter further counselled.

It was also noted on the same forum by one commenter that he was surprised that the victim was Malay as usually such suicide cases are associated with the Chinese.

However, not everyone took a sympathetic view of the incident. Feminist social commenter Loretta (@lorettabagg) asked how it is possible or even condoned that such a young couple already had three kids (third on the way), alluding to the fact that the wife was pregnant with the first child at the ripe age of just 15!

Pointing out that many men refused to use contraception leading to unwanted pregnancies, especially among the young, the poster was scathing in her condemnation of “deadbeat dads who engage in sex with kids”.

It was passionately argued that a 15-year-old did not have the maturity to deal with the many issues of parenthood. The poster also had a few choice words for those who “supported” the father who got a minor pregnant. She simply called out the father for being a “paedophile”.

Pointing out that the real victim was the young widow who has limited employment prospects, the poster also surmised that the children were at risk growing up “incel”.

Editor’s Note: ‘Incel’ is defined as a member of an online community of young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are hostile towards women and men who are sexually active.
Reserving all her sympathy for the young widow, the poster berated online commenters who dared shift blame (for the apparent suicide) onto shoulders of a young girl who was groomed since she was 15 when she first got pregnant.
Citing a report from the New Straits Times, the 19-year-old Nurul Natasha Amyra Ishak was said to be part of the overwhelming social problem of teenage pregnancies with Malays disproportionately represented.

More than one commenter had raised eyebrows to parents who allowed this relationship.

Some though did not see anything wrong with the relationship with one claiming that 15 was old enough as “our ancestors got married even earlier” or even the very fact that “a girl would have reached puberty age by 15”.

The poster simply labelled these commenters “paedo enablers” and cited a news report whereby the Sultan of Selangor who was shocked at the numbers of young brides in the state, has ordered that the minimum age for marriage be raised from 16 to 18.

The young husband had apparently – if online rumours are to be believed – jumped off the bridge due to pressures at home.
Far from it to make assumptions based on conjecture, it does raise the highly uncomfortable question of child marriages and the consequences when said bride is left to fend for herself.

In this case for now, it is hoped the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will offer assistance to the young widow and her family. Meaningful discussions on this highly contentious topic need to be undertaken in the near future, if not now.
Over to you Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. –  Focus Malaysia

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