KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 – Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today, threw her support behind the Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council member Lee Lam Thye’s call to decriminalise suicide.
“I strongly agree with the recommendation of Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council member Lee Lam Thye, that the issue of suicide should be addressed and removed from the criminal category.
“The problem is mounting and we need to decriminalise this suicide case,” she said, according to Harian Metro.
Dr Wan Azizah said that discussions on mental health related issues involving several agencies, have already commenced.
Dr Wan Azizah and Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad had also stressed on the need for the government to review Section 309 of the Penal Code for this purpose.
Bernama reported Lee calling on lawmakers to focus on decriminalising suicide and to pay heed to mental health issues.
Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong had called for the Attorney-General to look into the existing legislation on suicide cases.
