KLUANG: A woman in her 50s was allegedly stabbed to death by her son, following a row at their home in Felda Ayer Hitam, yesterday morning.
The son, in his 20s, was arrested shortly after. The weapon – a knife – was also recovered from the bloody scene.
The woman was found motionless in a pool of blood in the living room of the house, which she shared with her husband and son.
It is understood that the suspect and his mother had argued while having breakfast, though the cause of the dispute has yet to be established.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh, who confirmed the murder, declined to elaborate on the 10.45am incident.
He stated that a post-mortem, scheduled for today, will determine how many times the victim was stabbed. However, he confirmed that she had been stabbed in the back.
The victim's son has no prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
The woman was pronounced dead upon arrival at 11am at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital yesterday.
The suspect will be remanded today to assist with the murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death sentence or imprisonment for no less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Bahrin, who declined to release further information on the murder, said the post-mortem will also establish how many times the victim was stabbed.
Earlier, the community Facebook page Kluang Hari Ini posted pictures showing police presence at the scene.
Harian Metro spoke with the victim's husband today.
The victim's husband, who wished to be identified only as Masrudin, 49, said the suspect was his third child, among five siblings.
He was unemployed and alone at the house during the alleged murder.
Masrudin said his son had been undergoing psychiatric treatment and had been prescribed medication for the past six months.
The distraught father believes his son was not in control of his actions and hopes that authorities will take his mental health condition into account.
He also hopes that his other children will not harbour resentment towards their brother.
"I advise my children not to hold grudges against him. This wasn't him; it was something else," he said.
He also expressed disappointment over the premature circulation of details about the case on social media, which he believes could affect the ongoing police investigation.
The burial of his wife is scheduled to take place at the Felda Ayer Hitam Muslim Cemetery after the post-mortem examination is completed.
"This morning, a specialist from Johor Baru will arrive at the Forensic Medicine Unit of Hospital Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom to conduct the autopsy," he said.