Decriminalise suicide at next Parliament sitting, says Kit Siang

Decriminalise suicide at next Parliament sitting, says Kit Siang

The DAP veteran says the sharp rise in the number of suicides this year necessitates quick action.

Lim Kit Siang says until the current law is amended to decriminalise suicide, all prosecutions for attempted suicide must be put on hold.
PETALING JAYA:
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has called on the government to decriminalise suicide at the next parliamentary sitting in light of the rising number of suicides in the country.

He said that until the existing law on suicide is amended, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must instruct that all prosecutions for attempted suicide cases be put on hold.

“The 21-month-long Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unusual rise in suicides – with the police recording 638 suicides in the first seven months of 2021, or three suicides a day, as compared to 631 in 2020 and 699 in 2019.

“This is the time to decriminalise attempted suicide, which is a crime under the present law.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the fact that a suicide attempt is not a criminal issue, but a social and health problem.”

He said more people are facing symptoms such as depression, stress, insomnia, anxiety, irritability and mood swings.

The Iskandar Puteri MP added that it was up to health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and de facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to take the lead in this matter.

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