BUKIT MERTAJAM: An elderly man was injured in his stomach when his teenage son stabbed him with a knife after he was chided for refusing to eat in the morning yesterday.
Police was alerted to the incident by the 60-year-old victim's neighbour at their single-storey terrace home at Taman Alma Jaya here at about 11.16am yesterday before rushing to the scene.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shafee Abd Samad said the incident is believed to have happened when the 17-year-old's mother ticked him off for refusing to eat.
"The college student immediately reached for a fruit knife in the kitchen and injured his father on his stomach and left hand.
"Initial investigations revealed the second year vocational college student was seeking treatment and was under observation at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital psychiatric department for depression and mental problems since last year," he said.
A doctor, attending to the father, confirmed he was stable and only sustained minor injuries on the left side of his stomach and left thumb.
Shafee said police then detained the boy and seized the knife used in the attack.
The case is investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons or means.
Shafee said the boy's urine test came back negative and he did not have any previous record.
"Further investigation into the case will be carried out.
"We have recorded statements from several witnesses," he added.