Mum Pleads For Understanding After Son Confesses To Setting 8 Homes On Fire In Kedah
The 23-year-old man confessed to starting the fires as an act of revenge for being bullied.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Jan 2025, 07:45 PM — Updated about 7 hours ago
A string of arson attacks that destroyed nine homes in Kupang, Baling, Kedah over the past month has shaken the community, with the fires causing significant losses, including the tragic deaths of seven pet cats
The fires broke out at nine homes in the district between 24 December last year and 12 January 2025.
In the latest incident on 12 January, a family of three was left with only the clothes on their backs after their rented house in Kampung Charok Kapas was gutted by fire, reported the New Straits Times.
Following which, a 23-year-old man was detained for his suspected involvement in the attacks. He has since confessed to the police, admitting to committing arson out of revenge.
According to Kedah police chief Fisol Salleh, the suspect confessed to starting eight of the nine fires due to personal grievances.
"The suspect was identified after background checks revealed that the victims were either directly or indirectly connected to him. During questioning, he confessed that his actions were motivated by personal grievances linked to workplace issues, it could be from bullying to relationship conflicts," Fisol said.
"He resigned from his job on 23 December last year and committed the offences the very next day. Investigations further revealed that some of the victims had worked alongside the suspect," Fisol added.
Ibrahim Ali, 59, and his wife, two of the victims of the fires, surveying their destroyed home.
Image via Noorazura Abdul Rahman/New Straits TimesPolice today, 24 January, said they will seek a remand extension for the suspect, but his mother has made an emotional plea for understanding, saying he is "a slow learner" and a victim of bullying
According to the mother, who spoke with the New Straits Times on the condition of anonymity, constant mistreatment left her son battling depression and immense pressure, contributing to his recent actions.
"Please, I don't want to be named. I still need to work to support my husband, who suffers from a stroke, and three children who are still in school," she was quoted as saying through the window of her kitchen.
"He's not a violent person. He's been a victim [of bullying] since school, and this bullying continued when he worked at a rubber processing factory after finishing Form Five," the mother said, alleging that her son once returned home with his mouth bleeding after colleagues forced scrap rubber into his mouth.
He eventually left the job, but the bullying from his former coworkers persisted, she alleged.
"I was worried when the police questioned him four times before his arrest," she shared.
"When I asked him if he was involved in the arson, he denied it. After his arrest, I was shocked to learn that he had confessed to the first incident and that he was linked to nine cases."
She expressed her anguish over not being able to afford a lawyer to defend her son.
Meanwhile, Baling police chief Supt Azmi Mokhtar told the media that the remand extension, which the police will apply tomorrow, 25 January, is necessary to finalise investigations into the case.
However, some of the arson victims have not only denied the allegations of bullying the suspect but also claim they have never met him
Adnan Hassan, 40, from Kampung Tanah Periuk in Kupang said he had never met the suspect and had never worked at a rubber factory. Adnan is one of the several villagers who lost their homes in the fire.
"Please stop the accusations. I am not a bully. I don't even know the suspect.
"I've been working at the Inokom factory in Kulim for 12 years. I don't understand his motive for burning my house. My wife, Nurul Atiqah binti Shafie, and I are under immense pressure. Not only did our house and three motorcycles burn down, but now we also have to face the baseless accusations," Adnan said.
Similarly, another victim from the same village, Ibrahim Ali, 59, also denied knowing the suspect.
"I don't know the suspect, so how could we have bullied him? People in the village know our situation and understand, but outsiders accuse us of being bullies," Ibrahim said, adding that his daughter's friends on social media tag her daily, calling their family "bullies".
"It hurts to read heartless comments from netizens insulting us, even though it's untrue."
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
If you or anyone you know is lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, please call these Malaysian hotlines:
1. BEFRIENDERS KL
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Contact: +603-76272929
Email: [email protected]
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2. TALIAN KASIH
24-hour
Contact: 15999
WhatsApp: +6019-2615999
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3. BUDDY BEAR CHILDLINE
Daily (12pm - 12am)
Contact: 1800-18-2327
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For a more thorough directory of resources, head over to the websites of Malaysian Mental Health Association or MINDAKAMI.
