A Malaysian Muslim youth group has voiced concern about rising suicides in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Anadolu Agency, the President of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Force (ABIM) Muhammad Faisal bin Abdul Aziz told the wire service that the phenomenon of suicide in Malaysia showed that people were in a critical situation.

“This can be seen through several heartbreaking incidents, including the increasing number of suicides,” he said. While police recorded 468 suicides in the first five months of 2021, climbing from an annual total of 631 in 2020 and 609 in 2019.