A crime called suicide

Depression, isolation and loneliness are diseases of our times which receives little or no recognition leaving the sufferer quite alone in his/her battle for the preservation of life.

What happens when a person has lost the art of enjoying life, is plagued by dark misery and is constantly haunted by lonesome thoughts of suicide?

Does a person have the right to take his/her life?

According to Section 309 of the Penal Code, it is a criminal offence to do so.

The offence of attempted suicide under Section 309 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to one year or a fine or both.

In April this year, an Indonesian national was sentenced to eight months jail by a magistrate’s court in Penang for attempting suicide.

In May, a foreign student pleaded guilty to a suicide attempt at a magistrate’s court in Petaling Jaya and  was given a two-month jail term.

In Kota Kinabalu, in the same month, a woman attempted suicide by jumping from the sixth floor of a mall.

This case is now being investigated under Section 309 of the Penal Code for attempted suicide.

Citizen Journalists Malaysia (CJMY) speaks to registered counselor from Singapore Henry Tan, the president of Johor Mental Health Association Dr Jeyarajah Selvadurai, and  president of Johor Bahru Befrienders Siew May Fong.