Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the memorandum asking for an immediate moratorium was an effort to decriminalise attempted suicide.

“This is so there will be no charges or convictions under Section 309 of the Penal Code for attempted suicide cases until an amendment or a repeal is approved in Parliament,” he said in his ministry’s winding-up speech on the Supply Bill 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Khairy said the memorandum was prepared by the ministry’s disease control division, medical development division and legal adviser’s office.

Pressed by Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) on a timeline for the moratorium, Khairy said the memorandum would be presented to the Cabinet as soon as possible.

FMT reported earlier that the Bar Council had called for the government to put in place a moratorium on charges against those who attempt suicide, pending the repeal of the Penal Code.

“The government should also withdraw all pending charges against people who have attempted suicide,” said M Ramachelvam, co-chair of the Bar Council’s law reform and special areas committee.

Section 309 of the Penal Code states that those who are unsuccessful in their suicide attempt may be jailed for up to a year and/or be fined.

Deputy health minister Aaron Ago Dagang was reported as saying on Oct 7 that the ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers had agreed to decriminalise suicide, and would recommend it to the Cabinet for approval.