special report While Malaysian experts lean towards the decriminalisation of suicide, some believe that the decision would raise fundamental questions about individual autonomy.

Medical researcher and psychiatrist T Maniam said the decision to repeal the law is one that requires society to question prevalent views on an individual's right to make decisions about his/her own body and life.

The law can be traced to the British colonial times, having been formulated on the premise that citizens belong to the state and have no autonomy to decide whether to live or die.

suicide series 211209-241209 dr t maniam 04 Any review of this, Maniam said, is best answered through the theological and philosophical points of view.

Religion and faith are common factors explored by researchers, in aiming to understand why some people are more likely to commit suicide than others.

A Universiti Malaya study published in 2005 stated that Malays, who are Muslim by birth, make up the smallest group of people who attempt suicide.

It notes that this is due to Islam's relatively stronger stand against suicide, said to be forbidden in the Quran and Hadith.

Buddhism and Hinduism, noted the study, "(do) not censure suicide and hence it is not seriously considered as a sin".

The Hindu scriptures state that suicide is akin to murder. Hence, the soul will join the spirit world and roam the earth up to the time the person was pre-ordained to die.

Keown's Dictionary of Buddhism states that suicide is a futile act as one will only be reborn to more suffering. However, it is morally permissible in two cases - when one has achieved enlightenment, or for the purpose of hara-kiri (when a warrior is facing imminent defeat).

The dictionary notes that the first case is "doctrinally dubious" albeit popular, and that hara-kiri is more of a Japanese custom than it is a Buddhist practice.

The church considers suicide a sin, among others citing the sixth of the Ten Commandments - 'thou shalt not kill' - which also forbids taking one's own life.

Nevertheless, some interpretations of the Bible consider the passages relating to suicide as written in a factual manner, implying that it is not sinful.

Malay numbers up

Interestingly, religion appears to have failed to stop the rise in the number of Malays attempting suicide, as observed by Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) psychiatrist and researcher Dr Nor Zuraida Zainal.

More than 10 years ago, Malays made up less than five percent of those who were admitted to UMMC after attempting suicide, but the figure has been rising steadily.

suicide series 211209-241209 dr nor zuraida 01 "Ten years ago my study found (that it had risen to) about nine percent. This year we found that Malays make up nearly 15 percent of those admitted after attempting suicide," she said.

Nor Zuraida opined that this is because there is less "fear of the implication of their act in the hereafter" among Malays who "used to hold strongly to Islam's view on suicide".

She also cautioned that this can only be said for those who are not suffering from severe depression, anxiety disorder or mental disorders like schizophrenia.

It is estimated that about 75 percent of those admitted to UMMC after attempting suicide have been found to suffer from such conditions.

suicide series 211209-241209 ustaz shauqi othman 03 UKM Islamic Studies lecturer Ustaz Shauqi Othman believes that the number is going up because young Malays have grown increasingly distanced from religion and are thus spiritually barren.

He noted, though, that calls to repeal the law do not mean that society allows or condones the taking of one's life. Rather, society is acknowledging that those who attempt suicide should not be incarcerated as they are not a danger to others.

Shauqi contented that nowhere in the Quran or Hadith does it say that punishment should be meted out to those who attempt suicide, implying that there are others ways to address the matter.

"If we can rehabilitate those who abuse substances, then why can't we try to rehabilitate those who attempt suicide, instead of sending them to prison?" he asked.

suicide series 211209-241209 father lawrence andrew 02 In Islam, he added, one's life belongs to Allah, and therefore it is His purview to punish those who commit suicide.

Father Lawrence Andrew (left) , editor of Catholic newsletter The Herald , agreed with the view, explaining that the threat of punishment does little to deter those who attempt suicide.

"Laws are not what we need to prevent suicide. We need to appreciate the importance of family life…as a foundation of support," he said.

The question of euthanasia

Theological views aside, the question remains: Is society ready to repeal a law that may open the floodgates on the question of an individual's right to take his/her own life?

The decriminalisation of suicide in England in 1961 also invited debate on euthanasia, which is a crime punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment,.

Earlier this year, the House of Lords ruled that the law regarding assisted suicide in England is unclear, but fell short of legalising euthanasia by only providing a guideline.

Would Malaysians be prepared to discuss the ethics and philosophy of euthanasia, if the stigma surrounding suicide is so prevalent?

Medical researchers like Maniam, alongside Befrienders Kuala Lumpur chairperson Gangadara Vadivel, named stigma as one of the main reasons for severe under-reporting of suicide in Malaysia.

In the current climate, perhaps the first step to alleviate the situation is to negate the ‘dishonour' which befalls those left to deal with the suicide of someone close.

Tomorrow : Under-reporting a major obstacle

Related story : Should suicidal people be penalised?