In a parliamentary written reply to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Wan Junaidi said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is in the process of examining legal options and necessary changes that will need to be made.
“The AG’s Chambers is further examining the legal options available as well as the legal implications if the offence of attempted suicide is removed from the criminal justice system.
“In addition, it is also examining the need to amend other laws arising from the removal of the offence of attempted suicide from the criminal system to avoid loopholes in the law on this matter.
“It is expected to finalise this study by the end of 2021 and move towards preparing to table the legal amendments by the end of 2021 or in early 2022.”
In the Dewan Rakyat in October, deputy health minister Aaron Ago Dagang said the home affairs ministry and AGC had agreed to abolish Section 309 of the Penal Code.
The statement was met with widespread praise, with health experts and civil society alike praising the move to treat suicide attempts as a mental health problem, and not a criminal one.
Parliamentary Services Act
In a separate reply to Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub, Wan Junaidi provided an update on the revival of the Parliamentary Services Act.
“The first draft of the Parliamentary Services Bill has been prepared and is being refined.
“The Parliamentary Services Bill is expected to be tabled in March 2022.”
Originally enacted in 1963, the Parliamentary Services Act was repealed in 1992 during the administration of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which placed parliamentary affairs under the prime minister’s department.
The repeal of the law has been criticised as contradicting the Westminster Parliamentary principle of separation of powers, which dictates that the legislature and the executive branch should be kept independent of one another.
Without the act, the government is able to play a significant role in the operations of parliament, with the ability to approve or deny expenditure and control staffing through the Public Service Department (JPA).