Ex-husband of M'sia woman, 41, who drowned with their 3-year-old daughter in Pulau Ketam, responds

The former husband of the Malaysian woman found dead with their three-year-old daughter in the waters at Pulau Ketam has shared his side of the story about the family's situation.

The 41-year-old mother had allegedly jumped into the waters with her daughter on Aug. 6, reportedly due to problems in the family.

According to Malaysia newspaper China Press, the woman had been working in Singapore, and recently left her job and returned to the family's home in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

The woman and her ex-husband filed for divorce two years ago due to a dispute, and the ex-husband got custody of their daughter.

After the incident, a suicide note by the woman had been found at home, China Press reported.

In the note, she claimed that no one from her ex-husband's family could take care of her daughter, and she did not want the daughter to lose her mother.

The ex-husband's perspective

Speaking to China Press, the ex-husband recounted his disbelief when he found out from his sister about his ex-wife and daughter's death.

He teared up as he spoke about his daughter, whom he said his family cared for very much.

"I was nearly 40 when I had my daughter," he said. "How could I not love her?"

He added that she was a clever and cute child loved by everyone.

He had planned to ensure she got a good education and grew up well.

"My daughter is the most innocent," he said, claiming that many online commenters have expressed sympathy for the mother but not the daughter.

Regarding the family problems, he asserted that he did not want to stop his ex-wife from seeing their daughter after gaining custody.

However, he had been scared by an earlier Facebook post his ex-wife wrote, supposedly suggesting that she wanted to kill herself.

He claimed that after some discussions with his ex-wife's father, he decided to let her see their daughter again.

He would also listen to his ex-wife to hear what she wanted, he added.

When she wanted to return to her parents' house to stay, he went with her.

"She said she was not happy living in my house, so I let her go back," he said. "Whatever she wanted, I would agree."

A photo taken in June 2025 showed the couple and daughter having a meal outside.

In the interview, the ex-husband also requested for online commenters to not disturb the family further.

"Let us resume our quiet lives," he said. "We do not wish to make a big deal of the incident."

Independence

China Daily's report included a screenshot of a Facebook comment written by the man's ex-wife two years ago.

She wrote that she was treated very well by her ex-husband then.

Although he had "a personality like a child" and did not know many things, he was willing to listen and learn, she wrote.

In the comment, the woman also seemed to be encouraging another mother to be an independent woman and not rely on men for everything.

"If you can buy things with money you earned yourself, you will be very happy," she wrote.

Helplines:

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

national mindline 1771: 1771

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222 (24 hours)

Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 (for primary school-aged children)

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