I am deeply saddened and regretful over the sad demise of Chan Syek Teng, the Kepong community’s columnist who has jumped to her death, ended a short life of 30 years in tragedy. I would like to urge the society to be more concerned about early marriage, domestic violence and depression. By providing extra care and support, we will be able to stop most of the tragedies.

As a woman, a wife and a mother, Chan Syek Teng’s suicide has once again reminded us about the roles of women and the social pressure they are subject to. In a double-income household, women today bear a heavier load in balancing their work and family, which led to self-neglect at times.

From the newspapers, it is learned that Syek Teng was forced to marry at a young age after getting pregnant. As a mother myself, I advise all women to learn how to protect themselves, and consider thoroughly before entering into marriage. Similarly, I wish to dispense some big sister’s advice to victims of domestic violence, stop suffering in silence and come forward to report the perpetrators. You deserve a happier and better life!

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, around 4.2 million of Malaysians or 30 per cent of the population suffered from some forms of mental illness. Out of this total, more than half of it were women.

In conjunction with the International Women’s Day on March 8 this year, Wanita MCA has launched a series of ‘Blue Storm Terminator’ training workshop, which trained more than 200 volunteers, to raise public awareness about depression. This lends a helping hand to those in need of counselling and thus reduce the occurrence of tragedies. Here I would like to urge sisters and professional counsellors across the states to come join us.

There is always a way out in life, the society needs more people to lend an ear or a shoulder to those in need, so they can vent their frustrations and perhaps this can help prevent a tragedy.

HENG SEAI KIE is Wanita MCA chairperson, adviser of the Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity & Integration) and deputy president of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO).