KUALA LUMPUR – The amendments to decriminalise suicide or suicide attempts are being studied by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), after which they will be tabled in Parliament.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit-GPS) told the lower House today that cabinet members have come to an understanding over the matter, in his reply to a supplementary question by Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH) during question time.
“It is true. If we look at the current act, any suicide attempt or suicide itself is a criminal act. However, recently I think the ministers have come to an understanding that we will not criminalise this anymore.
“The amendment to the act, as far as I understand, will be done with the attorney-general and I was made to understand that it will be tabled to the cabinet to decriminalise suicide attempts,” said Aaron.
He acknowledged that cases have been increasing, but said there has been a slight increase of 2% in suicide cases from last year to this year, with the figure hovering around 600 deaths or attempts.
Teo had wanted to know if the current administration will continue the Pakatan Harapan administration’s efforts to decriminalise suicide.
Shortly after his answer, Kasthuriraani Patto (Batu Kawan-PH) tried to take the floor and ask whether the government will have a moratorium on the penalty for suicide attempts, but was immediately shut down by Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.
Rashid said that he had already allowed two additional questions and that Kasthuriraani had not observed proper Standing Order decorum before asking her question.
Kasthuriraani shot back saying that suicide is a critical matter and requested Rashid’s discretion to ask her question but was immediately silenced by the deputy speaker.
Putrajaya had earlier revealed that some 175 cases of attempted suicide have been charged between January and June.
Between 2018 and June this year, 902 cases were charged – 261 of which were in 2018, 243 in 2019, and 223 last year.
The information was given in a parliamentary reply yesterday when Noorita Sual (Tenom-PH) asked on the decriminalisation of suicide and statistics related to the matter.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the AGC is reviewing the laws on suicide abetment and attempt due to the rising number of incidents since 2015. – The Vibes, September 15, 2021
