KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong said today he hoped to table a Bill to decriminalise suicide by the middle of next year.
Liew said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is currently looking at various models from Commonwealth countries on how to tackle suicide.
“As soon as the AGC has completed its study on appropriate alternative mechanisms that can be used in this country, a policy paper that is currently being drafted will be presented to the Cabinet for approval.
“If approved, amendments to the Penal Code to decriminalise suicide attempts as a criminal offence in Malaysia will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat,” Liew said in a statement.
Section 309 of the Penal Code punishes attempted suicide with one year’s imprisonment or a fine or both.
