PETALING JAYA – A decision for amendments to be made to Section 309 of the Penal Code, which currently criminalises suicide attempts, will be finalised once the government has obtained necessary feedback from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the response from the AGC would be brought up for discussion in the cabinet before a decision is made.
“I have raised the matter with the cabinet for us to enforce a moratorium, but the views of the cabinet members were for amendments to be done and finalised by the AGC, then there would be no need for a moratorium.
“We are waiting for views on whether the act of suicide is a criminal offence.
“So, we are still waiting (for the response) and after that, the cabinet will come to a decision,” he said in a report by The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran.
Khairy made these remarks at a press conference after officiating the Health Ministry Hospital Directors’ Conference here today.
Last October, the Home Ministry and AGC reportedly agreed to abolish Section 309 of the Penal Code that makes attempted suicide a criminal offence.
Anyone convicted under Section 309 can be punished with a jail sentence of up to a year, a fine, or both.
In September last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had revealed that the government was mulling removing attempted suicide from the criminal justice system, and to admit the affected individuals in a psychiatric healthcare centre.
Additionally, Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang reiterated that the decision to completely abolish the law was also being discussed by the cabinet.
“The next (process) is for amendments to be done to Section 309 so that those who commit or attempt suicide will not be prosecuted as a criminal offender,” he said. – The Vibes, June 21, 2022
