MENTAL health advocates have once again called for the decriminalisation of suicide, which is a criminal act under Section 309 of the Penal Code.

At a panel discussion of the launch of IDEAS and Relate Mental Health Malaysia’s report “Youth Suicide in Malaysia”, Dr Andrew Mohan Raj, president of the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA), said the Criminal Procedure Code on suicide ought to be revised.

A different perspective on suicide is needed, he said

“Repealing the (part on suicide) would be ideal, but our approach must be based on consensus, if not to repeal to amend the act.

“Part of our advocacy strategy is to let stakeholders know that there are provisions under the Mental Health Act to give a more humane approach that (sees) people who attempt suicide (as) victims, not criminals, and should be given psychiatric assessment,” he said.

This sentiment was echoed by Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng.

“Suicide response by police and firefighters must change. The police are empowered to do involuntary hospital admission under Section 10 of the Mental Health Act. The police too are sympathetic and empathetic and want to know if there is a different solution,” said the Selangor DAP lawmaker who has launched community initiatives in her constituency to address mental health issues.

Dr Nurashikin Ibrahim, who heads the Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit and is a public health specialist, said the ministry has engaged with the Attorney-General’s Chambers on decriminalizing suicide.

She said the ministry is awaiting feedback as surveys and research are still ongoing.

“At the moment the technical working group for suicide prevention will follow up on this, but Covid-19 is taking precedence at the moment”.

In 2019, the Pakatan Harapan government had also mooted the idea for possible amendments to be made to laws related to suicide to address the increasing number of such attempts nationwide. – February 19, 2021.