Abstract
The year 2022 was an unforgettable date when Malaysia’s parliament removed Section 309 of the Penal Code which consisted of penalizing suicide attempts, and reforms by a global push from the mental health advocates to prevent suicides. Nevertheless, the absence of expert opinion professional studies in the Malaysian context might still be restraining the Malaysians’ understanding and deep comprehension of decriminalizing suicide in Malaysia hence it becomes the main major problem in executing the law that the society will chooses to obtrude social repercussion to the victim whose already at his vulnerable state. At the same time, the one who committed suffered with a layer of complexity of emotional distress which he would run on contemplating suicide. The gaps due to a lack of sufficient awareness of mental health issues among Malaysians would invalidate those people in struggles. This failure led Malaysians to put societal barriers in treating or recognizing mental illness as a social stigma, though there have been an increasing number of cases over the years. Besides, a further discussion would also revolve around how decriminalizing suicide is actually the best initiative step taken by the parliament and impliedly assist the victim to have life-worthy value again in the perspective after the amendment has been done.
Nurul Qistina binti Mohd Tishaah, Universiti Teknologi Mara
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