COMMENT | The recent matricide case in Malacca, involving a 17-year-old Form Five student accused of killing his mother and brother, has shocked the nation.

Yet beyond the surface horror lies a deeper and more systemic concern that requires us to examine how our society, institutions, and policies are (or are not) addressing the emotional and psychological well-being of young Malaysians.

This tragedy must not be viewed in isolation. Instead, it should serve as a critical moment for reflection on the broader psychosocial landscape in which many adolescents now find themselves, where academic pressures are relentless, emotional literacy is underdeveloped, and family dynamics may lack open, empathic communication.