Nowadays, we can see that people live in harmony and peaceful environment without any problems, making them

feel less stressful. It is perspective which we assume towards people surrounding us but in reality, it contradicts. The nature of the job, family matter, financial problems and religious belief make some people tend to do improper and unconscious action such as attempting suicide. In Malaysia, the suicide rate is on the rise as reported by Sipalan(2012) from June to August 2012. The most interesting part is Chinese community is on the top followed by the Indians while Malays is the lowest suicidal rate as the report shows. When we compared between Malaysia and Singapore, the suicidal rate are similar among the three races. Chinese still on the top followed by Indians and Malays. According to Alphonsus(2012), there are three common form of suicide adopted among the three races in Malaysia such as jumping off high buildings, hanging and also poisoning. Among these three, the Chinese was favoured to attempt suicide by jumping off high building while the Indians and Malays are either attempt to suicide by poisoning or hanging. On the other hand, it is interesting to note that, male are more common in attempt actual suicide rather than female (Grivion&Apter, 2012). This is because it is not male social culture to tell others about their problems and male are generally have big responsibility to survive in their life, to serve and protect of their love ones (Alphonsus,2012). Next, in the sociology, there are 3 major sociological perspectives can be implemented to study the causes and effect of the suicide attempt in our country which are structural-functional approach, social-conflict approach and symbolic-interaction approach. These three perspectives are designed to answer the question or explain a particular phenomenon to view our social world. Firstly, the structural-functional approach means a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis,2007). From here, this perspective emphasizes on how the society is structured in order to maintain the stability and also the societys effect on the individual. Related to this approach, Chinese is on top of the suicide rate in Malaysia. This is due to the achievement-oriented upbringing and the importance placed on family interests that make them feel pressure at the first. Besides, social institutions such as family play a big role in raising their children such as giving the education as the way to transmit skills, knowledge and culture to its youth. For example, Chineses family especially the father and the mother tend to push their children to get the higher marks for their examination. They put high hope to their children as they have given their children education by sending them to the better school, tuitions and extra classes in order to make their children get the results with flying colours. From this situation, the children will feel the pressure as the father and the mother put high hope on them to get the best results. Hence, when the target is to get best result is not achieved, these Chinese youth faced anxiety, depression and even to attempt suicide as they felt massive pressure and stress (Alphonsus,2012).We can conclude that, in term of the structural-functional approach, this action is called social dysfunctional as it makes an individual to commit suicide because of the family institution do not play the best role for their children. According to Macionis(2007), social dysfunctional is any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society. On the other hand, it is functional if they contribute to social stability. In the early study by Emile Durkheims suicide, he studied about the individual characteristics and the society. He made the conclusion that suicide may cause by the weak social connection is called egoistic suicide. While suicide result from the lack of regulation in a capitalist society is called anomic suicide. Secondly, social-conflict approach means a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change (Macionis, 2007). This approach more emphasizes on inequality and changes rather than focus on solidarity and stability stated in structural-functional approach. In the study of Karl Marx, he stated about the dominance and the coercion like the rich and the poor, people of colour and men relation to women (Macionis, 2007). Gender-conflict approach is one of the important types of conflict perspectives where it focused on inequality and conflict between men and women. For example, as we all know men places higher in

position of power than the women nowadays. We can see that study from Kok&Goh(2011) based on Durkheims suicide theory, men are more susceptible in relationship status and hence influence them to greater risk of attempting suicide than women. While when compared to conflict approach, men are generally known to have a big responsibility towards his life and family that would burden him compared to women. In addition, when they having problems, men usually do not share the problems with the others even their family and friends (Alphonsus, 2012). Thus, we can conclude that men are prone to commit suicide than women as women do not have power to lead the family or either in the workplace. This type of conflict approach is closely the same with the feminism, the advocacy of social equality for women and men (Macionis, 2007). Besides the gender-conflict approach, the race-conflict approach also necessary in order to make a clear view about cause and effect among the races in the country. The race-conflict approach closely related to inequality and conflict in different races and the ethnics. For instance, Singapore Chinese measured that materialistic wealth is necessary in their life (Chia&Thoi, 1972). Singapore is the country with high cost living and causes them to work harder in order to get money. Apparently, they become higher suicidal rate than Malays and Indians due to pressure in working and also some other major factors such as psychiatric illness, physical illness, disturbed social and personal relationship and economical stress due to high cost living. When compared to suicide in Malays, Malays is low in number at Singapore compared to Indians and Chinese. The main causes of suicide were mental illness, physical illness and love problems (Chia&Thoi, 1972). Cultural belief and values influenced these two ethnic groups as Malays valued all the harmony in intimate inter-personal relationship and influenced by the Islamic values while the Chinese they more prone to have stress and pressure to gain more wealth. In Malaysia, the conflict arise in suicide rate are almost the same as the Singapore as Malays still in the lower suicide rate compare to Chinese and Indians. Lastly, the third perspective is the symbolic-interaction approach which reflects the microlevel orientation, a close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations (Macionis, 2007). Its mean a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individual (Macionis, 2007). While structural-functional approach and social-conflict approach shared the macro-level orientation, which mean both focus broad on social structures that shape the society as a whole. Symbolic-interaction approach emphasizes that human behaviour influenced by the meaning, language and thought as stated by Nelson (1998). The meaning is the main central in human behaviour in the symbolic- interaction approach in which meaning defined as human act toward people and things based upon the meaning that they have given to those people or things (Nelson, 1998). In addition, second principle is language. For example, it talks about meaning through symbol. Lastly, the third is the thought. It means modifies each individuals interpretation (Nelson, 1998). From these three principles, we can implement in ones behaviour as a major factor contributing to suicide rate in Malaysia. For example, when someone has been bullied or insulted, they preferred to commit suicide due to inappropriate language used, and also inequality in the treatment given towards them. One of the cases happen in our country is Ivan Wong who loves to play badminton with his friends has been bullied by his seniors at the school. He could not endure the unremitting joke just because they said that he is no good at badminton. Because of that condition, he experienced physical and psychological bullying that made him decides to stop what he enjoys to do (Eek, 2009). Although, he did not think to attempt suicide, we can see that because of the harmful words or actions may lead him to commit suicide. He may often experience feeling of great distress, fear and self-doubt that could be taken as a whole drop in self-esteem (Eek, 2009). As we all know, suicide is prohibited in Islam as it contradict with the teaching. Here come the important of religions in order to reduce the suicide rate in the country. The obvious reason that can be seen; the Islamic countries tend to have lowest suicide rate in the world (Brown, 2001). In Malaysia, it is interesting to note that, mostly Malays are Muslims and more knowledgeable in religions compared to other races. There are lots of talks or lectures about Islam on the television, radio or even in the mass media to spread the teachings in order to remember one another to

achieve the goal in their life. However, from the figures showed in the three-year period, Malays is also not an exception because there is still some attempt to suicide. As mentioned in surah An-Nisa verse 29, And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. Moreover, in Surah AlBaqarah verses 195 states that And do not throw yourselves in destruction. Both verses indicate that life is a bounty given by Allah and we as a Muslim should use what have been given properly to us by not doing any destruction on ourselves like suicide as the solution of the problems. Everyone has their faith towards Allah and this kind of faith is varies among the people. That is difficult to determine the impact and influence of Islamic faith on suicidality (Cosar et al. 2007; Khan and Reza 2000). From here we can see that religion institution play an important role in order to make the society stable. Islam emphasizes suicide is strictly forbidden that can cause the individual to be cast into hell. In the surah an-Nisa verse 29 and 30 has mentioned this clearly O you who believe! Eat not up your property-among yourselves in vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will: nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful! If any do that in rancour and injustice-soon shall We cast them into the fire: and easily it is for Allah. When we relate it to structural-functional approach where the function of the religion is closely related, Durkheim emphasizes that they are 3 major function of religion that give to function of the society. There are social cohesion, social control and providing meaning and purpose (Macionis, 2007). However, this approach downplays religions dysfunctional because the facts held beliefs can generate social conflict. Next, the social-conflict approach by Karl Marx states about religion serves ruling elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting peoples attention from social inequalities (Macionis, 2007). While in the symbolic-interaction approach, clearly view about well constructed society. For example, one of the reasons people commit suicide is from the marital conflict. If both see the marriage as a merely contract, they are free to go wherever they want to and thus with the strong religious belief the number of divorce rate can b reduced (Macionis, 2007). Hence, the suicide among the divorce people can be reduced. This is how the religion such as Islam is well constructed in teaching it to its believers. Thus, Malays especially should use the bounty given by Allah that are Iman, Islam , Ihsan and Taqwa properly in order to save them from casting into hell. Next, the percentage of Muslim society in Malaysia is much higher than other religion as a result the Malays are the majority of the Islam. There are some factors that contribute them to do suicide although Islam argues that it is prohibited as it is contradicts the principles and practices of Islam. The family institution plays a big role in this problem as they are the closest with their children at home. In terms of sociology perspectives, the structural-functional approach, family is the first and most important setting for child rearing (Macionis, 2007). Religious education about Islam must be implemented in the family. The reason that suicide is happening till now is due to lack of Islamic teaching by the parents. We can see that parents nowadays are too busy with their work thus ignoring their part in giving advices to their children especially the teenagers. In the social conflict and feminist analysis states that family as central to our way of life (Macionis, 2007) means its role in stratification where how the family maintain social inequality. That is why parents involvement is important to direct the interaction with the child, availability to the child and responsibility for the care of the child to avoid them to suicide (Flouri&Buchanan, 2002). At the end, due to prohibition of the religion, Malaysian families were reluctant to report suicide incident (Tam&Lee, 2011).Thus, from here; family involvement for support would recover the compliance (Tam&Lee, 2011). The symbolic-interaction approach view can be implemented such as with the family, social emotional bond can be built through activities done together with relationship mother and father to the children (Macionis, 2007). According to Tam and Lee (2011), a healthy relationship with the parents is the best way when compared to the other prevention methods like education, social workers, religion and psychologist. Due to social changes nowadays, Muslim is not an exception to follow the post modernisation. As mentioned by Dallmayr (1993), modernisation may change in the sociocultural belief. From here we can see that the characteristics of post modernisation such as no truth, no

reality, based on imagination and speculation, meaningless and valueless, multiplicities that include multicultural dimensions, equal representation and total doubt may influence the Muslim society to follow such characteristics. Here come the problem arise to social behaviour to the Muslim today such as suicide. As an IIUM Muslim student and the Muslim staff, all of us have responsibility to prevent such social behaviour like attempting suicide among the Muslims. It is our duty for us to remind each other about the true path of Islam. From surah al-Asr verse 3 mentioned about this Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. Besides, as mentioned in surah al-Fatihah verse 5, You do we worship, and Your aid we seek. The purpose of life is to worship Him alone not others. Remind with the other Muslim to worship Him alone and thus social problem such as suicide will not arise. We as Muslim should have a strong faith in Him in order to make Islam as the way of life. Not only that, the concept of brotherhood among the Muslim may control this type of social problems such as giving dakwah to one another without any intention to be hatred or insulated. Correct our intention to make them close to Allah. In the surah Al-Zukhruf verse 68 states that Friends on that Day will be foes, one another except the Righteous. From here, for such behaviour, Muslim society will not point each other when the problems arise among them but as a whole society discuss how to solve the problem in the peaceful way. Next, to prevent such social problems, IIUM Muslim students and Muslim staff should know it is a sin when let other Muslims life to commit suicide whether it happens consciously or unconsciously. They must know that life given by Allah is the most precious gift from Him to His believers. Thus, it is forbidden to attempt suicide in Islam as mentioned in the surah Al-Baqarah verse 173, He has forbidden you only the carrion (flesh of dead animals), and blood, and flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allahs Name has not been mentioned whilst slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience or transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful . As a Muslim, do not hesitate to share problems with another. Other than factors contributed to suicide mentioned above, feeling hopelessness, personal history of depression and aggressive behaviour, use of alcohol and drugs and socioeconomic status influenced someone to have intention to commit suicide. From these factors, by giving some wise motivation can be made them pleased to think deeply before do the wrong actions. Attract them to be close to Allah and hence it would make them realise that Allah is always with them in whatever condition they may have as mentioned in surah Al-Baqarah verse 286 On no soul does Allah place a burden greater that it can bear. In conclusion, we can conclude that social illness like suicide that happen in our country today should be prevented. The economy and work, politics and government, health and medicine and education also play the important role in reducing the number of suicide in Malaysia, not only the religion and also families institutions. The three perspectives mentioned clearly the cause and effect how they work together in order to study and explain the phenomenon happen in the whole society. The structural-functional approach stated about the functions of the society to make it stable and social equilibrium. The social-conflicts approach emphasizes about the inequality and lastly symbolic-interaction approach more concern about ones behaviours and how it works to the society. There are lots of causes that influence the individual to suicide such as problems in marital status, mental illness, schizophrenia and also cultural influences. It is the duty for us to take the prevention steps from this problem to invade widely into serious problem. The environments such as the society have to be more concern about each other not only to stare at the problem without any action. In the individual perspectives, one should think deeply about their family and friends when deciding to attempt the suicide as the solution. Turn to Allah and seek His forgiveness.