In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, deputy health minister Aaron Ago Dagang said the home ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers had agreed to decriminalise suicide, and will bring the decision to the Cabinet for approval.

Befrienders KL chairman Justin Victor said he was “extremely happy for this to come to pass” as it had been something many in the mental health field had long been advocating.

“We have seen this in many places around the world. When suicide is not treated as a criminal act, people are more likely to come forward and share their experiences with suicide without fear of legal consequences,” he told FMT.

“Without a law that threatens their admission (that they had attempted to commit suicide), they can more easily and comfortably seek help from mental health professionals.”

It would also help to remove some of the stigma attached to suicide attempts, he said, as it would no longer paint it as something negative or shameful.

“For somebody who tries to commit suicide, those compulsions are coming from a troubled mind and heart that clouds their ability to think clearly. This is a health problem that must be treated with compassion, and removing some of the stigma is a step in that direction,” he said.

Co-chair of the Bar Council’s law reform and special areas committee M Ramachelvam said he hoped the Cabinet can approve the decision “expeditiously” so a repeal bill can be tabled at the current parliamentary meeting.

“This step is long overdue. We are one of the few countries that still criminalises suicide, and with cases on the rise, (decriminalisation) will go a long way to preventing suicide as those facing problems can get the treatment they need without fear.

“We can quite clearly see that the current laws have not reduced suicides. We’ve seen a steady increase in the last few years,” said Ramachelvam, who is also a member of the Decriminalisation of Suicide focus group under the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing.