KUCHING: Sarawak Mental Health Association (MHA) agrees with abolishing suicide attempt as an offence from the Penal Code, calling it a “good move”.
Its chairman Dr Ismail Drahman said this to the New Sarawak Tribune when asked for his comments on news report of a disabled (OKU) Terengganu man who was sentenced to six months’ in jail for attempted suicide.
The 38-year-old was charged under Section 309 of the Penal Code which states that anyone who commits suicide can be jailed or fined or both.
Dr Ismail said: “What I am able to say is that it is a good move to encourage or help people with mental illness or severe mental health problems to get over their problems. A lot of these people can be saved or treated.”
He said people suffering from chronic physical illnesses, relationship problems or having mental illnesses should not be categorised as criminals merely because they tried to commit suicide.
He said they are sick and they need help.
On Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong stated that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) is actively studying ways of abolishing the law concerned.
