THE process to decriminalise suicide is under way after the Home Ministry and Attorney-General Chambers agreed to abolish section 309 of the penal code, said Deputy Health Minister II Aaron Ago Dagang.

“I was made to understand that the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General Chambers have agreed to abolish section 309 which makes suicide attempts an offence,” the Kanowit MP said during minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today,

He said the proposal to amend the law will be brought to the cabinet.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Che Alias Hamid (Kemaman-PN) on the progress status for the proposal to decriminalise suicide and how will this help to reduce suicide cases.

Aaron noted that there was a 143% jump in suicide cases between 2020 and 2021.

He said the government had set up helplines to provide counselling for those with mental health problems. Serious cases will be treated at hospitals or rehabilitation centres

The former Pakatan Harapan government had wanted to decriminalise attempts at suicide.The Health Ministry has pledged to do the same as part of its suicide prevention campaign. – October 7, 2021.