Astro Awani reported Barat Daya police chief Sazalee Adam as saying that the 30-year-old suspect subsequently slashed himself in the incident which occurred at 6am.

He said police received an emergency call about the matter this morning.

“Both victims were sent to Penang Hospital for further treatment,” he said.

Harian Metro reported Sazalee as saying that both the man and his 28-year-old wife were in stable condition.

He said according to early investigations, the victim’s mother heard her daughter’s screams and ran upstairs to find the husband pinning her down on their bed and attempting to cut her.

“The victim’s mother managed to pull her off the bed and take her from the room. At the same time, the mother saw the suspect, still on the bed, slash his own arms and neck with the same knife he used to cut his wife,” he said.

Sazalee said the couple, who has been married for six years, were teachers at a school in Timur Laut and has a three-year-old daughter.

He cited a witness who said the couple did not seem to have any financial or health problems, nor did a third party appear to be involved.

“They were still fine last night. The incident likely happened when they were waking up. We are still investigating the matter.

“The couple lived with the wife’s family and had no record of quarrelling. The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder,” he said.