Still no discussions on abolishing criminal suicide - Muda

Penang Muda has called for the abolishment of criminal suicide. This comes after several people were said to have fallen off the Penang Bridge recently.

In a statement today, Penang Muda chairperson Jazz Tan Yee Mei raised concern regarding Section 309 of the Penal Code which criminalises attempted suicide in Malaysia.

She also noted there are currently no discussions to table a bill to abolish criminal suicide.

“The bill has reached the cabinet but there are still no discussions in tabling the abolishment.

“Muda Penang urges the government to look into this matter and pursue all necessary measures to achieve the said abolishment,” she said.

Yesterday, it was reported that a man fell from the Penang Bridge about 11.40am. The body of another man, reported to have fallen from the bridge, was found last Thursday (May 12).

Tan said there were 19 attempted suicides and 53 suicide cases reported in Penang from January to May last year.

She alleged that many more such cases, which take place on the Penang Bridge, go unreported.

“Signboards criminalising the offenders can be seen erected by the Malaysian Highway Authority at the Penang Bridge.

Penang Bridge

“Muda Penang also urges the Malaysian Highway Authority to remove the signboards and replace them with hotlines for suicides or redirecting… to responsible non-government organisations (NGOs) that focus on mental health,” she said.

Penang Muda also called for clarification on the RM70 million budget allocation, under Budget 2022, to develop a mental health support system, how it has been spent, and its outcome.

‘Don’t punish, provide counselling’

In March, the Selangor state government urged the federal government to hasten its moratorium on criminalising suicide and repeal attempted suicide as a crime under Section 309 of the Penal Code.

Selangor state executive councillor on health, women, and family empowerment Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said punishment is not the best way to deal with the issue.

“The best course of action is not to punish these groups, (and) in turn, provide assistance and counselling services, in accordance with the problem faced.

“Imposing a sentence not only doesn’t help (the individual to) overcome this problem, it (also) does not help to raise public awareness on the importance of caring for one’s mental health,” she said.

Calls for the decriminalisation of suicide have been making the rounds for some time.

The Health Ministry last year backed a push to decriminalise suicide, with its director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin speaking out on mental health. - Mkini