Man saved from attempted suicide

PENAMPANG: A man in his 20s attempted to jump off the Megalong Shopping Complex building here, Saturday, believed due to family pressure.

Civilians alerted the Fire and Rescue Department when they spotted the Kadazandusun man sitting on the edge of the fifth floor of the premises, barefooted and clad only in trousers at about 6.53am.

State Fire and Rescue Department Public Relations Officer Mohd Affendy K. Ramin said six personnel from the Penampang Fire and Rescue Department led by its Operations Chief Benny Lim managed to distract the man and pull him to safety after about five minutes of persuasion. He was then handed over to the police for further action.

District Police Chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh said they are investigating the case under Section 309 of the Penal Code for attempt to commit suicide.

Preliminary investigations showed the man was probably unemployed and was driven to take the drastic move due to family pressure.