The Health Ministry has proposed that the Penal Code be amended to permit abortions in certain exceptional cases such as rape and incest, according to a Bernama report today.

The ministry's parliamentary secretary S Sothinathan said at present feedback was being obtained from non-governmental organisations and professional and religious bodies on how the amendment should read.

"Presently, the Penal Code allows for abortion if the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, but we want the law to cover other cases as well, like incest and rape," he was quoted as saying by the national news agency.

However, he stressed the ministry's proposal should not be seen as condoning abortion but merely making it legal in certain cases

He added the ministry wants the law to be made specific in order to reduce the number of unwed mothers and unwanted newborns.

"The law does not allow room to deal with the various reasons for abortions but we want to maintain that abortion is illegal in normal cases," he said.

Sothinathan added the ministry will study the feedback before deciding on its next move.

In May, a Law Reform Unit under the Attorney-General's chambers was set up to review outdated, improper and conflicting laws.

The unit, which is conducting a comprehensive study on specific laws, is also looking at laws deemed to be amended according to the changing environment.

Grim scenario

Earlier, Sothinathan opened the Inter Regional Seminar on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Kuala Lumpur on behalf of Health Minister Chua Jui Meng.

In his speech, which was read by Sothinathan, Chua said Malaysia was sad that health systems around the world had failed to narrow the health divide between the rich and the poor over the last century.

"We are concerned with the grim scenario painted by the high and unacceptable maternal mortality rates in developing countries where women die unnecessarily from pregnancy complications and unsafe abortions," he said.

The minister said 99 percent of more than half a million maternal deaths each year occurred in developing countries and the situation was gloomy in many parts of Asia, especially South Asia.

However, Chua praised Malaysia's comprehensive and accessible health care system which has been continually developed, upgraded and improved since the country achieved independence in 1957.

"We have put in place an excellent primary health care system including a family health development programme that is based on continuity of care from womb to tomb," he added.

However, he said the government had to do more to meet the rising expectations and demands from the public and to keep up with the rapid advancements in health care and information technology.