Suicide survivors should be treated with compassion

THE Malaysian Mental Health Association calls for a total repeal or amendments to Section 309 of the Penal Code which punishes those who survive a suicide attempt with up to a year in jail, a fine, or both, if convicted.

Last year, Parliament was informed that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was studying possible amendments to laws related to suicide. Yet, a magistrate’s court has just fined an unemployed man who had attempted to commit suicide RM3,000 or three months in jail if he failed to pay the fine, “Court fines man RM3k for suicide attempt” (The Star, Aug 4; online at https://bit.ly/3a4mt8I).