Medical NGO joins chorus to decriminalise suicide
Malaysian Medics International (MMI), an NGO led by medical students, have joined calls for the government to impose a moratorium on prosecuting people who attempt suicide.
MMI said it is alarmed by the number of suicide survivors who are being prosecuted and stressed for the decriminalisation of suicide in favour of a comprehensive provision of care in public healthcare facilities.
Malaysian Medics International (MMI), an NGO led by medical students, have joined calls for the government to impose a moratorium on prosecuting people who attempt suicide.
MMI said it is alarmed by the number of suicide survivors who are being prosecuted and stressed for the decriminalisation of suicide in favour of a comprehensive provision of care in public healthcare facilities.
The group noted that suicide attempts might increase during the current time of an economic downturn if provisions for mental health is not improved.
"Suicide survivors and their families are often faced with grief, stigma, shame, isolation and various other social as well as mental health issues which necessitate the support of a multidisciplinary team of health professionals.
"At present, we are appalled with the fact that suicide survivors and their families are not getting this essential support.
"Worse, they are slammed with the prospect of the imprisonment of the suicide survivor and slapped with a hefty fine by the court of law," it said.
In the most recent case, the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court fined a 28-year-old unemployed man to an RM3,000 fine or three months' jail in default for attempting suicide.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal had asked the court to impose an appropriate sentence as a lesson because the man had "inconvenienced" many parties.
MMI said there should be a moratorium on the use of Section 309 of the Penal Code and efforts should be made towards abolishing the provision.
Section 309 of the Penal Code states: "Whoever attempts to commit suicide, and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."
Instead, MMI said the government should mandate all suicide survivors to be provided psychiatric evaluation and rehabilitation.
"The National Registry for Suicide Malaysia should be rebooted to allow for data collection for future research into various aspects of suicide in Malaysia," it said.
MMI said there should also be more funding for psychiatric, psychological and counselling services.
It added that the media should also be prohibited from reporting any personal particular, including the names of suicide survivors.
"Criminalising suicide survivors would only mean to penalise these survivors of their own mental health issues or those who may be suffering fro other causes that are yet to be identified.
"MMI has been a firm advocate for positive mental health, and we are appalled by the current provision of mental healthcare in Malaysia.
"Therefore, we urge the government to swiftly act on this burgeoning issue to decriminalise suicide while putting an immediate moratorium against the prosecution of suicide survivors in the court of law," it said.
Earlier this month, Malaysian Mental Health Association Dr Andrew Moharaj had also called on the government to decriminalise suicide.
Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lim Yi Wei had likewise called for a moratorium on punishments for suicide.
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