KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) members of parliament today suggested that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community be categorised under those with a mental health disorder.
During a debate on the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 to decriminalise suicide, Jamaluddin Yahya (PN-Pasir Salak) put forth the suggestion, which was supported by Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar).
"So do you agree Kapar (Dr Halimah) with my suggestion that the LGBT community be included under the mental disorder category?" Jamaluddin asked Halimah during her debate.
Dr Halimah, in her reply, said she would include Jamaluddin's suggestion in her speech.
"Thank you Pasir Salak. Consider it (the suggestion) included in my speech.
"Mental disorder is a huge issue. It requires not just the involvement of the Health Ministry but all related ministries need to sit together to overcome and implement a roadmap in curbing the issue.
"This is to resolve the problem of those who suffer from mental health disorders to the extent they even consider suicide," she said.
Earlier, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh tabled the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 in decriminalising suicide for its second reading.
The Dewan Rakyat had yesterday approved the bill to abolish Section 309 of the Penal Code, which provides penalties for suicide attempts, in a move to decriminalise suicide in Malaysia.
The move to decriminalise suicide will also see amendments to two other laws, namely Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No.2) 2023 and Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023.
The debate continues.