PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is examining the legal options and implications of removing attempted suicide as a criminal offence.
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He said the AGC was reviewing the law regarding the offences of abetment and attempted suicide.
Ismail said that as of 2015, the incidences of attempted suicides had been increasing and it covered various age groups.
“The issue is becoming more acute because of the uncertain economic situation, which has seen many lose their sources of income.
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“Therefore, a more holistic approach needs to be taken to curb such acts,” he said in a written reply to a question from Noorita Sual (PH-Tenom), who asked the government to provide an update on moves to decriminalise attempted suicide.
Malaysia recorded 902 attempted suicides from 2018 to June 2021. Of that number, 261 cases were prosecuted in 2018, 243 in 2019, 223 last year and 175 in the first six months of this year.-FMT