Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said police should not “punish” those who attempt suicide by investigating them as it would cause more trauma.
She said such actions would not help to address the underlying problems.
“Fear of legal repercussions deters individuals from seeking help when they need it the most.
“Those who attempt suicide need support and compassion, not punishment,” she told FMT.
Syerleena said decriminalising suicide attempts could help shift the focus from punishment to providing support and resources to those who were struggling.
She was commenting on the decision by Negeri Sembilan police to investigate a 16-year-old student who attempted suicide last month after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour.
The investigation comes in the midst of the government’s push to decriminalise suicide. Putrajaya had tabled a bill on the matter earlier this month.
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said it was not wrong for the police to investigate the attempted suicide as provisions in the Penal Code were still valid pending amendments made to them.
However, he said, now that Putrajaya had tabled a bill to decriminalise suicide, the action by the police gave the impression that they were contradicting the government’s stance on the issue.
“(Therefore) the government should announce a moratorium on all investigations and prosecution for attempted suicide until the bill is debated and passed,” he said.
Working group
Criminal lawyer Kitson Foong suggested that the home ministry, which oversees the police, take a proactive step by forming a working group that would determine the best way to handle attempted suicide cases pending its decriminalisation.
This working group would have to include the police, women, family and community development ministry, health ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, he said.
“Guidelines could be prepared and shared with the police to give officers on the ground clear directives on more humane approaches they can adopt when faced with persons who have attempted suicide,” he said.
However, Foong said the police had the legal right to investigate any attempted suicide until the bill to decriminalise it is passed and gazetted into law.
Syerleena also called on the relevant ministries to begin retraining and further educate police and other enforcement bodies to re-evaluate their approach when handling or dealing with attempted suicide cases.