Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN–Kuala Langat) said this was the likely reason behind the country’s inability to reduce the number of suicide cases.

“An attempted suicide is a criminal act, but does this mean the law or the prescribed form of punishment has failed? Has a study been conducted on how we can better prevent attempted suicides?

“How aware is the public and how informed are they that attempted suicide is a criminal offence? I think a large segment of the public does not understand the law,” Yunus said during a debate on amendments to the Penal Code in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He also noted that police statistics have identified depression as one of the root causes of suicide among teenagers aged 13 to 17.

Yunus said hospitalisation and treatment were not enough to reduce the suicide rate, adding that the government should also consider rehabilitating them in line with their religious beliefs.

“We cannot just focus on punitive measures, neither can it be just about providing medical treatment.  We should also approach the matter from a religious perspective. For Muslims, the treatment should incorporate an approach premised on Islamic beliefs,” he said.

Yunus proposed that the government establish a special rehabilitation centre for those who have attempted suicide.

“For those with drug problems, we have drug rehabilitation centres. Likewise, we should develop a centre which caters to those with suicidal tendencies.

“Such a centre will benefit the public and allow us to achieve our goal of reducing the number of suicide cases,” he said.