GEORGE TOWN: Safety nets will be installed on the 13.5km Penang Bridge to stop people falling into the sea.
This is one of the short-term solutions identified by the state to prevent such incidents.
“There have been discussions to find a solution to overcome this problem,” said state environment and welfare committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.
He told The Star that the Chief Minister had given instructions for a thorough investigation to be carried out.
Besides safety nets, Phee said CCTVs capable of capturing clear audio and video were also among the suggestions presented during a talk with relevant agencies such as the Penang Bridge operator, PLUS Malaysia Bhd, the police and medical experts.
“We’re also looking into the possibility of the Penang Bridge Emergency Response Team doing more frequent patrols on motorcycles,” he said.
Phee said the Penang Bridge operator would also install a hotline, so that the public could call directly for help when they see someone loitering along the bridge.
“As for a long-term solution, the state government is looking at artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to detect suspicious characters along the bridge.
“This technology will be able to detect human body conditions through camera sensors at the bridge. An alarm would go off to alert the ERT team to take immediate action if someone is behaving oddly on the bridge.
“The AI will be able to detect human emotions like whether you are depressed or not,” he said.
From May 1 to 24, there were eight cases reported at the Penang Bridge with four fatalities recorded.
The latest involved a 22-year-old woman whose body was found floating near Pulau Jerejak on May 25.
State Fire and Rescue Department chief Saadon Mokhtar said installing safety nets and more patrols along the bridge were among its suggestions to the state government.
“However, for me, what is more important is intervention and treatment at an early stage,” he said.
Dr Bono: ‘Those who face problems should not be afraid to seek help.’
Community members, he said, should play an important role in preventing such cases from happening by paying more attention to their loved ones, friends or the person sitting next to them.
Social psychologist Dr Suzanna Bono of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said preventing suicides was not just the task of the authorities or civil societies, it required public awareness too.
“The Health Ministry, NGOs and other mental health civil societies have done quite a lot to create awareness and educate the public.
“But at the same time, we need to look out for each other, whether they are our classmates, neighbours or co-workers,” she said.
To prevent suicidal tendencies, she said those who were at risk must be identified so that they could be helped.
Dr Bono said those who faced problems should not be afraid to seek help.
And getting rid of the stigma in seeking psychological help was crucial, she added.
Another psychological expert, Prof Dr Intan Hashimah Mohd Hashim of USM, said suicides could be due to a combination of factors such as family, work and finances.
Dr Intan Hashimah: ‘The pandemic can add to the risk of suicide too.’
“A person with poor coping skills, psychiatric problems, drug or alcohol abuse, low social support, and depression has a higher risk of committing suicide.
“The pandemic can add to the risk of suicide too,” she said, adding that one should seek help immediately when feeling depressed, emotional or having suicidal thoughts.
Those suffering from mental health issues or contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/ 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) family, social and community care centre (0111-959 8214 on WhatsApp); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 or go to the Befrienders for a full list of numbers nationwide and operating hours, or email sam@befrienders.org.my).
