For the longest of time, mental health issues have been ignored and cast aside. Well, not anymore.
Based on reports, the government has agreed to abolish Section 309 of the Penal code which states ‘Whoever attempts to commit suicide, and does any act towards the commission of such offense, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine or with both’.
During today's Dewan Rakyat session, Deputy Health Minister II announced that the government has agreed to be rid of the law which criminalizes taking one's own life.
“Suicide cases under Section 309 to convict those who (attempt to) commit suicide as an offence has been discussed for a while and the process (to abolish it) is underway,”
“And, I have been informed that, so far, the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) and the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) have agreed to abolish Section 309 to convict (attempted) suicide,” he said.
He further noted that the next step would be to amend said law, so that no one would be convicted if they were to ever attempt suicide.
A big step towards understanding mental health and depression, we're counting this one as a BIG win. More on the story here and here.
