In a tweet, Azalina pointed out that criminalising attempted suicide was “imported” by British colonisers back in the day, citing the Indian penal code.

“The UK repealed the offence in 1961, but Section 309 of the Penal Code remains in our laws.

“Criminal punishment is not the answer to mental health problems, which is why I am committed to reviewing Section 309 of the Penal Code,” she said.

Under Section 309, a person who attempts to commit suicide may be punished with imprisonment for up to a year, a fine, or both upon conviction.

In October 2021, then deputy health minister Aaron Ago Dagang told the Dewan Rakyat that the move to decriminalise suicide had begun.

However, this seems to have stalled, with amendments to Section 309 yet to be tabled prior to the dissolution of Parliament in October last year.

Following the formation of the unity government, three DAP elected representatives had urged the government to table the Penal Code amendments to decriminalise attempted suicide at the next Dewan Rakyat session.

The Dewan Rakyat will be convening in February.