ISTANBUL

Malaysia's parliament has approved a bill to decriminalize attempted suicides.

The Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed in the upper house of the Malaysian parliament, locally known as Dewan Negara, on Wednesday and aims to "empower crisis intervention officers to apprehend individuals who attempt suicide," broadcaster CNA reported.

“(This includes giving them) the space or power to forcefully break into the premises where the suicide attempt is made. It is a necessity,” said Law Minister Ramkarpal Singh.

The bill was passed by the lower house of the bicameral parliament last month.

Malaysian parliament also passed a bill in April proposing to make capital punishment an optional penalty and no longer mandatory.

Instead of the death penalty, the bill allows for a life sentence of 30-40 years of jail time and no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane to be given.